With tears in her eyes, Nathalia acted perfectly. "Dad, is it true? You can't wait to see me dead?" She said with an almost desperate voice.

The usual quick and calculating Frank was now at a loss, "No, it's... I..." he muttered.

​​

It looks like that's enough for now. Spencer thought and decided to retreat from this nonsensical show. "Nathalia, let's go. These people aren't worth it. They are just wasting our time. By the way, do you want to sue them?" Spencer asked Nathalia gently.

Nathalia shook her head slightly, tears running down her face, she said, "I've survived again. It's ok. Let them go. However cruel they treat me, they are my parents after all, and I can't do the same to them."

The crowd was touched and impressed. What a beautiful person! But poor girl. Her parents are inhumane!

Some of her classmates felt ashamed of themselves for mocking her earlier. She didn't do anything wrong. If there was anything wrong about her, it would be that she was born rich and kind, and the jealousy in others brought her harm.

An arm on Nathalia's shoulder, Spencer walked away with her. Frank panicked and rushed to block their way. "Wait, Nathalia, listen to dad." He pleaded.

He still wouldn't give in. Helplessly, Nathalia thought he's probably the scariest person one can ever encounter. Anything he would do anything to get what he wants.

"Dad, you are not the only smart person. Stop the show, stop acting and pretending now. Don't you feel ashamed?" Nathalia persuaded.

Spencer didn't even want to see the sight of Frank. He grabbed Nathalia tighter and walked away, with the bodyguard on their side.

The Carter couple looked at each other, then looked around the crowd, embarrassed and furious. "What the hell are you staring at?! Fuck off."

Spencer played Nathalia's favorite songs in the car. Nathalia sat straight at the front, though she tried to look a bit more cheerful and enjoy the music. One could easily see the exhaustion on her face. Again and again. When is this war going to end? Perhaps till the day one of us dies, perhaps that's when it will only end.

"Thank you." Nathalia turned to look at Spencer and said gently.

"Whatever matters to you matters to me. Whenever you are in need, I'm here for you. Always." Spencer said sincerely, looking into Nathalia's eyes.

Seeing how cruel the Carter's were again, Spencer felt immense anger grow inside him, and he wanted to protect and love Nathalia more.

These people that she had to face were so cunning, so cruel, and tough. Yet, she had walked such a long way on her own. She had fought and cried, and she never gave up.

Nathalia shook her head, "No. Spencer. This is my own business, and I will deal with it on my own. You shouldn't get involved." She said firmly.

Spencer looked at her for a while and didn't know what to say. He kept his eyes on the road for some time before he held her hands and said, "Ok, but you need to promise me one thing. Whenever you are in trouble, you have to tell me. Don't fight alone. I don't want to see the will you wrote again."

Nathalia saw the love and pain in his eyes. She felt it in her heart. Sweet and bitter. Suddenly, she withdrew her hands from his and said coldly, "Spencer, you don't need to do this. You and I are not meant to be. I have no feelings for you anymore. The past is the past. It's all forgotten."

She sounded determined and resolute, though she knew clearly how painful it was to lie to him, to hide her true feelings, and to hurt him, which was the worst of all.

"Anything else? Say it all out." Spencer collected himself and managed to say calmly.

"I won't be with you..." Nathalia went on, but with her eyes closed. She couldn't look into his eyes to say those words.

They were like sharp needles poking his heart, and her own. When had he ever comprised to anyone or anything, but to her, he had thrown away his pride.

"Whether you love me or not, it's your business. I love you, and that's my own business. You can't stop me. YOU MATTER THE MOST TO ME."

Tears streamed down Nathalia's cheeks. "Spencer, please, don't. I feel pressured."

Spencer let out a deep sigh, gently, he wiped the tears off Nathalia's face. He made her cry again, but he would not give up.

"I know last time I've hurt you, and it's too late to apologize. But I just want to tell you, whatever happens, you are always in my heart. I've never let you go. I don't know, and I can't promise what will happen in the future, but I will do the best I can to show you my love." Spencer said softly. His words entered her heart like a gentle breeze and brought more tears to her cheeks.

"I don't need..." Nathalia tried to deny but was stopped by a sudden attack of Spencer's lips. He embraced her tightly, planted his tongue through her lips to search for hers.

"But I do. Nathalia, I need you..."

After all the cruelty she had shown him. He didn't back off but persisted even harder. However busy his schedule was, he would make time to call her. He would invite himself to her place to visit her, take her out for dinner every night. Wherever he would go, he would report to her. When he had to go on a business trip, he would let her know, as if they were an old couple.

She was confused, unsure of what to do. She tried to be harsh; she tried to be persuasive, but nothing worked. It went on, and she questioned herself every day, what's the relationship between us? Yet, what can I do now? Flow with the flow and see where it takes me.

Nathalia filed a petition to the court and requested Frank to be sentenced. Frank didn't make an appeal within the deadline, and the judge sentenced the 10% of shares returned back to Nathalia.

Now, Nathalia had 15% of the shares in total, the second-biggest shareholders, just after Frank, who had 33% of the shares.

Meanwhile, Frank had again lost his reputation and trust from the shareholders. Things were going out of his control, and he had to compromise with the other shareholders.

It was the monthly conference again. All the shareholders were present except Nathalia.

Frank did not inform her purposely. In fact, he never let her know what was happening in the company, and he did not welcome her to the conference.

The shareholders exchanged looks and whispered to each other. What happened in the Carter family had spread all over town, and the shareholders were not pleased about it at all. Frank's own personal issue had affected everyone's benefit.

As usual, Frank showed up on time. He greeted everyone with a nod, a handshake, and a smile. He seemed to be in a good mood as if he had got some good news. He took his seat, then he realized the seat on his right side was empty. He frowned, "Where's Richard?"

Nicolas, who was sitting on his left side, glanced at him and said indifferently, "He's perhaps still on the way. Let's wait a little bit."

The seating arrangement was rather interesting, as there wasn't a seat prepared for the second-biggest shareholder, Nathalia. What did that imply?