After a while, cheering voices sounded inside the room. Nathalia sighed with relief.

Mrs. Davidson opened her eyes, still a bit confused, and she suddenly remembered something. "You will do what I say? Really?" She asked hurriedly.

​​

Her face was still red. She had not totally calmed down yet. Spencer could only agree. "Yes. I will do what you say." Tears filled her eyes. She hugged Spencer and said, "Spencer, I've only got you and Anna. I can't lose you."

Spencer could feel her trembling, and his heart ached. "You won't, mum. I'm always with you." He couldn't bear seeing his mum feeling hurt again. Life has been hard enough for her. She smiled in relief.

Anna exclaimed excitedly, "Spencer, that's wonderful! I'm so happy."

Then the door was pushed open. Everyone turned and looked. Nathalia was standing by the door. She took a glance at everyone. A loving family they are. I'm just a mere intruder.

Anna put her hands on her hips and demanded, "You should leave." She was probably the girl Nathalia envied the most. So carefree, so confident, so protected and loved.

Nathalia had to depend on herself. Life is unfair. People are different.

"Don't worry, I just want to clarify a few things," Nathalia said calmly.

Anna frowned, annoyed. She was about to stop Nathalia when Spencer said, in a deep and low voice, "Let her in." Anna pouted her lips and stepped aside reluctantly.

Nathalia walked in slowly and gracefully, like her normal self. She stood in front of Spencer, lifted her chin up, looked into his eyes, and asked collectedly, "Is the engagement canceled?"

Spencer stood silent for a while, his eyes set on Nathalia's, his heart bearing a heavyweight. Finally, he squeezed the words out of his lips, "I'm sorry."

Nathalia closed her eyes, took a long and deep breath, trying to hold back the tears, and calm her aching heart. Sorry. She repeated the word in her head.

It was the cruelest word she had ever heard.

"Hahaha. Finally, Nathalia Carter. You finally got what you deserve." Anne Carter was standing at the door, and she laughed triumphantly. You hurt my son and my daughter. Now you've got your karma.

Nathalia had no idea when she got here.

Kelly Rowland had been standing and listening at the door as well. She sneered, "You deserve it. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be happy." Even though she has lasted the longest, she's abandoned at the end. Hahaha. And in front of so many people. How embarrassing! She should know herself better.

Sophie was sobbing sadly, as if she was the one abandoned.

Spencer looked down at the floor. It hurt him so much to see Nathalia's face and to think that he was to lose her.

When Nathalia opened her eyes to look at Spencer again, there was a pain in her eyes, but more so, there was resolution. "That's it then. From now on, you and I are strangers. We haven't ever met, and our paths will not cross again. You stay away from my life, and I, yours."

Her voice was calm and determined. The pain was like a layer of polish painted on her, and she shone like a pearl in the sunlight.

Everyone was shocked to hear what she said and see how she reacted. They all thought that she would cry and even beg. No one expected her to be so calm and fearless.

Matt was again amazed by Nathalia. She's gentle and flows like water. At the same time, she's tough and steady like a mountain. She's too proud to beg.

He knew her. He understood.

Spencer looked at Nathalia. The pain was written on his face, stabbing pain in his heart, the fear of losing her. For the very first time, he tried to explain, "Nathalia, I, I didn't want...I have my reasons. I..."

"Spencer!" Mrs. Davidson shouted at him, crossly. For her, Spencer didn't need to explain to anyone. He could do what he wanted or how she wanted him to.

Nathalia kept her chin up, smiled a grateful smile, and said, "You don't need to explain. Can you just promise me one thing?"

Spencer nodded without hesitation. I will give you whatever I can. I've hurt you.

How could he have expected things to go this way? His feelings for her were genuine. He sincerely wanted to be with her. His love was real.

Nathalia bit her lips and forced the brightest smile she could. "Spencer Davidson, please treat me as a stranger if we ever meet again, and I will treat you the same."

Spencer Davidson. How coldly she addressed him! The once two closest hearts had to be strangers.

Her resolution surprised everyone present. They stared in disbelief.

"Nathalia..." It stabbed right into Spencer's heart. Seeing her having to pretend to be strong and tough hurt him tremendously. He wanted to hug her, stroke her, kiss her, assure her, love her, but he couldn't. "Are you sure? Can you really do it?"

How cruel! She was even colder than him!

Another sharp pain cut Nathalia's heart like a newly sharpened knife. She managed to hide the pain and shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Love is just a luxury, not a necessity. One can live without it."

It was true. To her, love was too heavy.

She smiled one last time at him, "I'd like to wish you a happy life ever after, but I can't. I'm sorry. It's impossible we can be friends either. So, let's just end it here. Everything. I will forget everything. It's just a dream, and now it's time to wake up."

It was a dream, but she had not prepared herself to see the end so soon. It came too unexpected. Even my own father doesn't care about me. How can I expect love from others?

Her words shot his heart like bullets. "You are even more cold-hearted than me." How can she do this? She's telling me these cruelest words while smiling. Forget everything? How?

It felt like a slap on her face. Her body shivered slightly, but the smile on her face remained. "Because I want to live, to live better than anyone."

To survive in this cruel world, the only way was to forget these beautiful memories and be cold and strong enough to avenge. However painful it was, she would not show a hint.

I won't let anyone see my tears. They belong to me, to the night when no one is around.

Everyone gazed at the girl with the brightest smile.

Years later, people would still remember this moment vividly.