Spencer shook his head, while thinking to himself, she's grown more and more beautiful.

"You don't understand. She's forced to be tough. She has to protect herself. All this time, she's been walking alone in danger, and she has to learn to be strong and smart so she can survive. Yet, deep down, she's the gentlest creature one could ever meet. Her heart is as clean as the snow on the mountain top; her soul is as pure as the morning dew on a rose petal."

​​

She's a diamond, a pearl. She shines, and I love her. Spencer thought.

Patrick's lips twitched and had goosebumps all over his skin. "Spencer, you are helpless."

James asked tentatively, "Hey Spencer, why don't you date other girls anymore? I mean, Nathalia Carter is great, but she's not at the same level as you, for sure..."

These two are from two different worlds. Not at the same level at all. There's a huge gap between them.

Spencer bit his lips slightly, his eyes filled with affection, then said gently, "I'm extremely lucky to meet a girl like her. She's a present from God."

The guys were shocked to hear the affection in his words and see the gentleness and sincerity on his face. Is this the same Spencer we know? What has happened to Spencer, who changes girlfriends regularly?

Steve finally spoke, knitting his brows, "What about Anna, then?"

Startled, Spencer turned to look at Steve, "What has she got anything to do with it?"

"Huh?" The guys chorused. Steve even looked a bit concerned, "We've heard that you are getting married to her as soon as your mum wakes up. It's all over town. Everyone knows."

Didn't he know? Everyone has heard, but he has no idea about it? What's going on?

Spencer lifted his eyebrows and said with a sneer, "Marry her?! Have you heard it from me?"

Patrick was even more confused now, "What do you mean? So, you are not marrying her?"

Spencer had his eyes fixed on the face on the screen again, smiled, and said, "I will only marry this girl. If it's not her, I will just stay a bachelor all my life."

At the Carter's

As soon as Evette got home, the anger that had been growing inside her exploded. She glared at Anne and bowled, "Mum, I hate you! What have you done to me?! I will never forgive you."

She blamed her mother for all the misfortune that was bestowed on her. If she had not introduced Ben Johnson to us, I would not have fallen into this trap. Today was the most shameful day of my life. Now everyone despises me.

Recalling the disdainful looks from the crowd today, she shivered with anger.

Pain, as well as hatred, struck Anne's heart as her daughter yelled at her. "Evette, it was all Nathalia Carter's fault. She did this to us. You are my daughter, my darling. I love you so much. I would never ever have the tiny thought of hurting you..."

To Nathalia, Anne had thought of all the possibilities to hurt her, even to kill her; however, she cared about and loved her own children very much. She would spoil them any way she could. Hearing such words from her own daughter was like having a knife slicing her heart.

Filled with hatred towards Nathalia, towards Anne, towards Ben, towards everyone, Evette refused to listen to Anne. "Shut up! I don't want to listen to you. Get out. Get lost! You make me feel ashamed. I don't want to see you again!"

It was the end of the world to her.

Tears streamed down Anne's face. "My sweetie, mum will get revenge for you. I promise. Hush. Hush. Please listen to mum..." She extended her arms to hug Evette, but Evette slapped them away.

Evette glared at her furiously and retorted, "How am I going to meet people now? My mother is a prostitute!"

This was what bothered Evette the most as she had always been proud of having a successful and powerful father as well as a gentle and loving mother. The belief that her parents loved each other and loved her and her brother meant a great deal to her.

Now she had found out that it was all just a lie. How could she accept the fact that her mother was a prostitute, someone that everyone despised?

Anne stared at Evette in disbelief, "Evette, what did you say?" It's impossible. She didn't say that. She didn't. I'm her mother. I've loved her all my life. Anyone else could call me that, but not my children! If I had not worked hard, where could we get all the wealth and fame we have today?

Evette was too angry to listen or think logically. She sobbed and shouted, "That's what you are! A prostitute. Don't you pretend to be innocent? You are the biggest shame! Get lost!"

I'm now a joke for everyone. People laugh at me, mock me because I'm the daughter of a prostitute. I'm not one of the girls from respectable families anymore. My friends will no longer hang out with me.

And my dream to marry someone from a rich family! It's all over!

Though angry and frustrated, seeing her daughter cry, Anne couldn't help feeling hurt. "Evette, Evette, my girl. Please don't cry. Listen to mum, please..."

Evette couldn't stand her mother's voice anymore, and she pushed her out of her room. Anne watched the door shut and felt a sudden terror of being abandoned and losing everything.

Have I lost my own daughter?

She stood at the door for some time before she wandered down the stairs, aimlessly.

Just as she got to the end of the stairs, Frank showed up and slapped hard on her head. "Bang."

She tumbled down and hit her head on the stairs. It was the very first time she felt the pain of being hit. What hurt her more was that it was her husband that beat her.

"Honey. You hit me! Why?!"

The couple had been in love for years, and Frank had treated her as his dearest all these years. They had never even argued once. But, today, he slapped her, and he slapped her hard, without any mercy.

Anne sobbed, looking pitiful as tears ran down her face. Normally, Frank would be hugging her, comforting her if he saw her cry, but not this time. Instead, he glared at her and shouted, "You are a shameless dirty bitch! You've made me lose face! How did I even fall for you in the beginning?!"