"You didn't eat much, did you? You were watching us most of the time. I hope you are not mistreating your tummy." Nathalia wiped her eyes dry and asked gently.

"My tummy is happy." He said cheerfully. He felt warm and relaxed, lying on the sofa with his head resting on her shoulder. "You know, I'm not greedy. All I need is to enjoy dinner together with you and mum after a day's work."

​​

"What about your dad?" Nathalia asked tentatively.

"My dad? I don't think of him often. I don't care." His tone turned cold.

Seeing how his face changed from contentment to coldness, Nathalia's heart melted, and she cuddled him tight, "He's not worth it. Let's forget about him."

Love flowed all over Spencer. This was the very first time Nathalia took the initiative to be close to him since they last separated. What did it mean?

His heart was overflowing with pure joy as he stroked her cheeks gently. Nathalia closed her eyes and felt his fingers dancing on her skin. They slowly slid down her cheeks to her lips and her chin and slowly pulled it closer. When his lips were about to meet hers, Mrs. Davidson's voice broke the beautiful silence of romance. "Spencer, Spencer."

The beautiful couple both froze. Nathalia blushed, pushed Spencer off her, and dashed out of the cupboard door like a bunny.

"Shit." Spencer cursed, tapped his face a couple of times to wake up, and headed to his mum's room. "Yes? I'm coming."

The sun was setting when Nathalia finished her last class. As she stepped out of the campus, a few men in black stopped her. "Miss Nathalia Carter, you are invited to see our master."

"I don't have time." Nathalia's heart skipped a beat; she frowned and secretly dialed a number on her phone in her pocket. Who is it this time? She wondered.

The men in black didn't utter another word, but simply gestured, 'This way.' The refusal was not allowed. Nathalia had to follow them and got in the car. It was a quiet drive. No questions, no information.

Nathalia knew that to keep calm and wait for help was the best solution. She had been through these situations before.

The car finally stopped outside a grand hotel, and Nathalia was led to a private room in the hotel cafeteria. A man was standing by the window, looking tall and intimidating. "What do you want from me?" Nathalia plucked up her courage and asked calmly. She was alert.

The man turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Take a seat." Startled, Nathalia found the figure familiar, then realized it was Spencer and Matt's father, Curt Davidson.

"Just get to the point. I have a busy schedule. I can't stay long." She didn't mean to be impolite, but she didn't like the way she was brought here to meet him.

Curt looked at Nathalia icily, and a sneer appeared on his face. "You don't have manners, do you?"

Nathalia found it irritating, and anger was brewing in her. She despised those that always thought too much of themselves. "Tell me about it. You forced me to come here to meet you. Do you call that having manners?"

She didn't care if it was a stranger she met in the street or the famous Mr. Davidson; fame and fortune did not define them, it was what was inside them, and Nathalia found what was inside Mr. Davidson's repulsive.

She thought about Spencer's mother, who lost her mind because of him, and she looked at this man of arrogance and huge ego standing in front of her. It made her feel angry.

To her surprise, he wasn't angry with Nathalia's comment. He looked her up and down, his eyes calculating, and said, "Listen to that. Sharp. No wonder you have got both of my sons following you about."

Nathalia felt a tiny sting at her heart, but she held her indifferent look, "Please get to the point."

Curt threw a file onto the table in front of her as a reply. Nathalia picked it up, flipped it through, and wore a confused look, "What's this?"

Curt looked down at her, watching her closely, "It's a bank card, five villas, two Ferraris and more. It's all yours if you agree to be with me."

Nathalia's jaw dropped, finding it impossible to believe what he said, "To be with you? You mean to work for you?" That's a crazy offer. It can't be what I think it is. Nathalia wondered.

"Don't pretend you don't understand," Curt said with a sneer on his face as cold as ice. "I will keep you as long as you obey me. I will give you everything you want, including demolishing your most loving father."

Keep me? Keep me as a slave? As a pet? What the hell? He should go to hell!

"Hmm. It sounds not a bad deal, and..." Nathalia decided to play along. The money meant nothing to her, and to revenge, she would not rely on others to do it.

Curt seemed surprised, pleased, and at the same time, contemptuous. "Sign your name then. Don't you worry? I keep my words." He said plainly.

Were the Davidsons all born with arrogance? Nathalia thought helplessly.

Just then, the door opened, and rushed Spencer. "Father! If anything happens to Nathalia, I will kill you!" He yelled furiously at Curt.

Quick and perfect timing. Nathalia thought.

Curt knitted his brows and scolded, "Patience. Patience. Young boy. I've already got this chick. From now on, she's mine. You'd better stay away from her."

On hearing so, Spencer's eyes dilated. "What?!" I must have heard it wrong. He stared at Curt and then Nathalia.

Curt pointed at Nathalia and sneered, "Huh. See? You see what she's really like? Just another woman that surrenders to money. She's not for you."

Nathalia shrugged her shoulders as if it had nothing to do with her. It was then when Spencer understood what was going on. He walked towards Nathalia and sat next to her, "Sorry, Nathalia. I apologize for my father. He's lost his mind again. Please don't mind him."

He supported Nathalia without any questions or hesitation. He trusted her completely.

"Aha." Nathalia giggled. "I see. No wonder. I was thinking he's weird. So he has mental problems. It's alright. I understand." She was touched by Spencer's unconditional trust.

It took Curt a good few seconds to see what game the two were playing. "Nathalia Carter, you have agreed. You'd better keep your word. No one plays games with me." He snapped.

Nathalia glanced at him, indifferently. Curt Davidson, despite his fame and fortune, meant nothing to Nathalia. "Mr. old grumpy, when have I agreed? I suggest you quit your arrogance and break the illusions. You are getting old, eh. Why not retire and have peace instead of messing about others' life?"

You pay to keep me as your pet? What's wrong with you? Don't you think about your wife and your children? You think you can do anything just because you have money. How naïve are you?! Playing women like toys, disgusting! Nathalia thought furiously.

Curt's face twitched at the sound of 'old grumpy'. Mr. old grumpy? Did she just call me that? Curt had always thought himself handsome and fit, and definitely not old or grumpy. No one had ever dared to insult him. "Spencer, you believe what she says?" He turned to Spencer and questioned.

Nathalia let out a sigh, thinking life can't be easy having a father like him.

Instantly Spencer put his arm around Nathalia's shoulder, smiled a sweet smile, and answered happily, "Of course. If I don't believe her, who else in the world can I believe?"