Frustrated, Anna had no idea what else she could do to change Spencer's mind. Then, an evil thought came to her head. She said viciously, "Spencer, she hates mummy. We can't allow her to get close to mummy, or she will harm mummy."

All her life, she had been spoiled and always believed that she was the center of the world that everyone followed; that whatever she did was right and if anything went wrong, it was someone else's fault; that if she couldn't get what she wanted, no one else should have it.

​​

Spencer was disappointed as well as shocked to hear what Anna said, yet, considering that she had helped his mother, he stifled his anger and said calmly, "I know Nathalia better than you. Please stop this nonsense, Anna."

Instantly, tears ran down Anna's face. She threw herself into Spencer's arms and said excitedly as she sobbed, "Spencer, you are so cruel. How can you treat me like this? My heart aches so much..."

Spencer knitted his brows and pushed Anna away. "Anna, we are not meant to be, and you can't force it to happen." He rejected her.

Anna sobbed even harder, "I will keep trying, and one day it will happen." This time, it seemed like she was really upset and not pretending anymore. However, Spencer had no feelings for her. He didn't even pity her anymore after seeing how she behaved. "Sometimes, it does yourself more harm when you are too persistent, and it's better to let go."

He then turned to Nathalia, "Shall we?" Nathalia nodded.

Spencer held Nathalia's hand and left without a goodbye. Watching them walking away, Anna bit her lips angrily, "Spencer, you will regret!" She shouted behind them.

Spencer drove Nathalia home. In the car, the couple didn't say much, both contents being with each other. When Nathalia got back to her apartment, and just as she was about to say goodbye, Spencer grabbed her around her waist and kissed her passionately. It was too quick for Nathalia to react, and she surrendered.

"Nathalia, you can't imagine how happy I am." He said excitedly, still catching his breath. It's been so long since I could hug her and kiss her like this.

Nathalia stayed in his embrace. Such a familiar feeling relaxed and comforted her. She didn't need to pretend to be strong now. She could just be loved and protected. "I'm really happy that your mother wakes up too."

He stroked her soft hair gently and said, "Finally, I can be with you again. Nathalia, I'm so sorry for not being able to see you for so long. It's not that I don't love you anymore. It's just... "

"I understand. Don't worry. I would have done the same if I were you. Also, that's all in the past now. Let's forget it." Nathalia covered Spencer's mouth with her hand and said gently. Her eyes shone like the brightest star, filled with love and affection.

Spencer felt so grateful that he thanked the universe for sending Nathalia to his life. A delightful smile appeared on his face as he took off the necklace hidden in his shirt and presented the ring to Nathalia, "Nathalia, would you, would you please put it back on for me?"

Tears filled Nathalia's eyes as she gazed at the ring. He has kept it carefully all this time. She was certain of his love, yet despite how much she wanted to say 'yes,' she shook her head and said, "I can't."

"Why? Can you not forgive me yet? I've never given you up..." Spencer was shocked, anxious, and upset. It was true that he had never given Nathalia up, and he knew he would never do. For him, the fact that he had fallen in love was a miracle itself.

Nathalia pouted her lips, lowered her head, and said slowly, "I just need some time. I will give you an answer on the 16th of August."

"16th August? Why?" Spencer asked curiously. Now he was half excited, half worried. Wait, that's the day after her twentieth birthday. Perhaps it means something to her.

Nathalia rubbed her temples gently as if it could help clear her mind. "Please, just give me a bit more time."

Though anxious to know why Spencer didn't want to push Nathalia. "I will wait for you. However long it takes, I will wait till you say yes." He said gently.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, together forever.

Suddenly, Nathalia looked up at him, right into his eyes. She was thinking of something, but she couldn't voice her mind.

After a little while, she plucked up her courage and asked, "There's a place I want to visit. Would you like to come with me?"

"Sure. Wherever you want to go, I will go with you." Spencer answered without hesitation.

The moon looked misty at night. It was quiet, very quiet. The couple got out of the car and walked into the cemetery.

Nathalia knew the place very well and found her way easily in the dim moonlight. She stopped at a white marble tombstone, surrounded by a few tall pines, whose leaves danced and sang in the wind, decorated with climbing roses. The sound of the waves traveled through the wind from the sea close by, soothing like a lullaby.

Spencer gazed at the picture on the gravestone. It was a young lady in a white dress, wearing an innocent smile. She looked beautiful, gentle, and kind. "Who's this?" Spencer asked quietly.

Nathalia bent down and wiped the photo gently with a tissue. "My mum." She answered.

The beautiful woman born to a rich family, married Frank Carter, died young, and left her baby daughter behind. Spencer recalled the words that everyone had said in town.

He looked at those kind eyes in the photo and said gently, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Carter, finally. I'm Spencer. I love your daughter, Nathalia, very much, and I promise you that I will look after her, be with her whenever she needs me, love her, spoil her and protect her forever." Spencer talked as if he was really meeting Nathalia's mother for the first time, in person.

"Alright." Nathalia interrupted him with a smile on her face. "Alright. Isn't my mum beautiful?"

Spencer bent down next to Nathalia and looked closer at the picture. "She Is. Very beautiful and gentle and kind."

Yet, it seemed that beauty did not last long. And the beautiful things in our life seemed to be taken away quicker than we wanted.