Nathalia turned around, saw the purse, and waved with a smile, "It's mine. Thank you so..." As she was to take her purse back, she recognized his face, and the smile froze on her face. "It's you."

It was from Ben Johnson. In a smart suit, with his usual charming smiley face, he had got the girls gazing at him as soon as he entered the shop.

​​

Ben's face lit up. "Nathalia! It's you. What a coincidence! I've heard that you are in Queenland. Congratulations! I guess I've helped a bit." He said with a wink.

He made it sound like they had known each other for some time and known each other well. Sophie came over, wearing a puzzled look. "Nathalia, who's this?"

Ben extended his hand out and introduced himself happily, "I'm Ben. It was Nathalia's tutor. She's very clever. I like her a lot."

Sophie found it rather overwhelming. Wow, he's very keen. What's happening here?

Nathalia sneered, snatched her purse off Ben's hand, and grabbed Sophie's hand, ready to dash out of the shop. However, Ben reacted quickly and stepped ahead of them to block their way. "I would love to take you out for lunch. Please join me for lunch."

"We have a plan and have got some important stuff to deal with. Please let us pass." Nathalia didn't want to waste more time on him.

Ben didn't move, but instead, gazed at Nathalia lovingly. Affection was apparent on her face. "Nathalia, I'm not your teacher anymore, and now I can tell you frankly what my heart says. Nathalia, I like you a lot. I love you. Please give me a chance."

A handsome guy opening his heart to a beautiful girl in public was one of the most romantic scenes to witness. The spectators watched anxiously and encouraged, "Say yes. Say, yes."

Nathalia kept her distance, and her face remained indifferent as if she couldn't hear the crowd. Ben insisted, "Nathalia, I mean what I say. I have a good job with very good pay. Though I'm not as rich as the Carters yet, with the time given, I will have my own business, bigger than the Carters. I promise you..."

"The Carters?" A girl echoed.

"Aha, it's Miss Nathalia Carter. But isn't she Spencer Davidson's girlfriend?" Someone questioned.

"He was her tutor? Did they have..."

A murmuring of guesses started, and Nathalia didn't have a good feeling about it. "Stop your nonsense. I don't like you at all."

Suddenly a kid showed up with a bunch of red roses and gave it to Ben. Obviously, it was all planned. Ben took the flowers, got down on his knees, and gazed up at Nathalia, "Nathalia, I love you. Please be my girl. I want to marry you..."

The word 'marry' stabbed Nathalia's heart like a knife as it brought back bitter memories. She scolded angrily, "Mr. Ben Johnson, are you insane? Or have you watched too much cheesy romance? Don't you understand I've said no? I've never met anyone as shameless as you are. I seriously think you are after something. It's my money you are after, isn't it?"

Her fury was apparent, and it startled the crowd that had slowly gathered around. She is a tough one. She was not giving in at all.

Though this guy is good looking, compared to Spencer Davidson, it's not a difficult choice to make.

The smiley look on Ben's face disappeared for a few seconds. She's sharp. Not an easy target.

"No, not at all. You've misunderstood. I have the money. I..." Ben acted like he'd been wronged as he defended himself eagerly.

The crowd pitied Ben and judged Nathalia for her insult. She didn't have to be so harsh even if she didn't like him. That's not a nice thing to do—poor guy.

Nathalia retorted quickly, "Where have you got the money from? You are an orphan, and you were working in pubs, tutoring innocent girls to make a living. It wasn't your fault to be an orphan, but to hurt others to rob, to steal, for money, that's unacceptable. That's having no morals, and I despise people like you."

The message that Ben was an orphan born with no money, but now dressed like a rich young man was received by the crowd. Where did he get the money from? They wondered.

Ben was taken aback. Shit. She's sharp. But where does it come from? Why is she so harsh with me? I have no idea how and when I displease her.

"No, I don't..." Ben was about to defend himself again when Nathalia cut him short. "Or you have a rich woman to feed you? I'm not one of those women you are looking for. You have been very keen and bothering me, I really wonder what you are really after."

Nathalia would love to slap him on his face. She had pretty much forgotten about him, and now he invited himself to her. The only way to treat people like him was to be hash and have no sympathy.

After she said so, Nathalia took Sophie by her hand, who had been standing there watching in shock, and walked away confidently.

Ben felt too ashamed to run after Nathalia. He looked around the crowd and wished he could hide in a cave.

Though Spencer had been away on a business trip and had a busy schedule, he would call Nathalia every evening. When he heard about what happened in the day, he was furious. "Why did he show up again? What does he want?" Spencer had never had a good feeling about Ben, and in fact, he disliked him a lot.

Nathalia was actually not so bothered about it. Whatever comes, just deal with it. What else can I do?

"Who knows? But there's nothing to worry about." Nathalia said casually.

Worried, Spencer wished he could just fly back to Nathalia and be with her. "Be careful. I don't have a good feeling about it."

"I will." Nathalia said with a smile, pleased to know that he cared about her, "Don't worry about me. You should focus on your work."

Ever since the incident, Nathalia no longer rejected him being close to her. She allowed him to cuddle her and kiss her. The distance between them grew shorter and shorter.

As soon as he heard her gentle voice, Spencer forgot all his troubles. "I will be back in a few days. What presents would you like me to get for you?"

Nathalia wandered around the house with the phone in her hand. As she passed by the mirror, she took a look at herself, smiled, and replied to Spencer, "I don't need anything as long as you come back safe." The mirror reflected the affection and gentleness in Nathalia's eyes.

And Spencer heard it in her voice. He was even more eager to come back to her now. "I will come back to you soon, for sure."

Nathalia was a bit startled to acknowledge how she talked to Spencer. She bit her lower lip gently, shook her head as if she could shake the thoughts off, and told herself to just flow with it.