Amy Berry started to feel her knees going numb and her body giving up. She sat down on the floor. Am I really so weak? Does she see me as such a failure? Why? She felt sudden despair.

She hugged her knees and buried her head down, seeing no hope.

​​

The police came and took the sisters away despite how they cried and fought. Nathalia watched quietly.

The students were murmuring, judging. Some said Nathalia was cruel; some said the sisters were pathetic.

Nathalia cared not a bit about what others said. She was only thinking about Mrs. Davidson, praying that she would get well soon.

She went to the hospital again after class, yet again she could only peep through the door as Mrs. Davidson refused to see her. She returned home, feeling disappointed, hurt, and lost. For some time, she just sat there in the living room, staring blankly.

The house that had been a cozy home to her suddenly seemed so empty and so quiet that it was cold and lifeless.

Spencer rang her and talked to her for an hour or so and finally cheered her up a bit. She did what he suggested, put music on, showered and ate, and went to bed early. Yet her sleep was haunted by various nightmares.

When she awoke in the morning, Sophie called. "Oh, Nathalia, something terrible happened." Sophie almost screamed. She sounded panicking as if the world was to come to an end.

Nathalia had a stretch and got out of bed slowly. "What happened?" She asked calmly.

"Amy Berry is dead!" Sophie exclaimed. It shocked Nathalia so much that she stood there by the bed, frozen, her eyes wide open and her jaw dropped. "Wh..what..what?!" She stuttered. How?! I saw her only yesterday! It can't be true!

"She committed suicide. It's all over the internet." Sophie's voice trembled. It was obvious that she was very shocked herself as well.

Nathalia turned on the browser on her phone as soon as she hung up. It was true. She read the news with a heavy frown between her brows. Amy Berry cut her wrist last night. She was taken to the hospital, but it was too late. They declared her death at 3 a.m.

Photos of her corpse were in the news. She was wearing a white dress, lying on the bed in a hospital room. The cut on her wrist was noticeable. And next to this photo was another one of the Berry sisters kneeling outside the classroom with Nathalia standing aside, which was quite an obvious implication that Nathalia had contributed to Amy's suicide.

Nathalia heaved a sigh. Yep, here comes trouble again. She thought. She couldn't understand why Amy would ever kill herself. It just doesn't sound like something she would do at all. She cares not a shit about what others think. She has no sense of shame or self-respect. Why? For love? Really? It doesn't make sense.

The news hit the whole town, and within hours it was all over Miami and spread nationally. People criticized Nathalia, accusing her as cruel, cold-hearted and that she had caused such a disaster to the Berry family. The journalists gathered outside the house, awaiting her to bombard her with questions.

Everything turned chaotic overnight.

Nathalia had no choice but to ask for a few days' leave and stayed at home. Though she had unfairly become the victim of this sudden mess, her main concern was Mrs. Davidson still, and she asked the maid to take food and flowers to her daily.

Sophie tried to visit Nathalia, but she couldn't even get close to the gate. The crowd had blocked it. Feeling upset and guilty, she called Nathalia. "I'm so sorry, Nathalia. It was my fault." It was me that made Nathalia and Matt meet up. It was all because of my stupidity. If I had not done so, and Amy would not have seen us, and none of this would have happened. She thought remorsefully and blamed herself.

"Why? Don't be silly. This has nothing to do with you." Nathalia frowned and said comfortingly.

"Oh, Nathalia, I feel so bad. How did this happen? It's a life. You know. Why did she do that?" Sophie said sadly. She had been reflecting on what happened and found herself stuck in a lot of questions.

She didn't like Amy Berry as a person. She found her arrogant and dark, especially after being kidnapped and almost killed by her. However, she never wanted her to die. She was so young. Why did she have to end her life?

"Hmmm." Nathalia heaved a sigh and didn't want to make any comments. It was strange, and there were many unanswered questions. She had her doubts about the whole incident.

Sophie hesitated and said tentatively, "Matt, err, he. It's not good for him either. They said that he abandoned Amy, that he was cruel..."

When people heard about the cancellation of the wedding, most were very supportive of Mattas Amy had not left a very good impression on people. However, now that she was dead, people changed their opinion as fast as the wind changed its direction.

Nathalia had noticed people's comments about Matt while browsing the news online. It wasn't a surprise to her. "Sophie, it would be better if you don't contact him these days. It won't do you or him any good with you getting involved." Nathalia suggested kindly. He's alright. He can take it. And when it's over, people will forget about it. He will be the respected Mr. Matt Davidson again. But Sophie is too innocent, and if she gets involved, people's accusations will drown her.

Feeling touched, Sophie was in tears. "Yeah. Matt said the same. I feel so useless. I wish I could help you." She did. Yet, as her mother said, she would only make things more complicated if she got involved. She felt so frustrated.

Nathalia was checking the news on her laptop while speaking to Sophie on the phone. She was following the latest updates about the incident but cared not about the comments at all. She was strong-minded, and others' comments could not hurt her.

"Don't worry, Sophie. It will get sorted soon. Just stay safe and don't get involved, ok?" she said gently.

Sophie opened her mouth, but no words came out. She looked at her mother sitting next to her helplessly.

Lisa shook her head, feeling a bit disappointed, more at herself than at Sophie. I have spoiled my daughter. She thought. I used to think that I can protect her, and as long as she's healthy and happy, it's all good. But after the kidnapping, I wish I had taught her to be a stronger person.

She couldn't help comparing her own daughter and Nathalia, thinking how brave and calm Nathalia was when in danger. She did not expect Sophie to be the same as Nathalia but wished that she could at least be able to protect herself.