"Honey, is it true, what it says in the newspaper? The money is gone?!" Anne asked desperately.

That was a tremendous amount of money, all that they had. When she read it in the newspaper, she almost fainted. She plucked up the courage to make the phone call, hoping that Frank would deny it.

​​

Frank found the familiar voice comforting. "I didn't expect it would turn out like this at all. The bank is going to auction all our property, including the shares of the company." That would be the most frightening thing for Frank. The company was his life.

Anne felt like someone had just stabbed a knife to her heart. She screamed, "No! No! It's impossible!"

Frank frowned, waited for Anne to calm down, and asked, "How much money have you got? We need it. I have to keep the shares. That's our only hope to make a comeback."

"I don't have much at all. You know what Zack is like. I've spent pretty much all my money on him." Anne defended. Even if she had money, she would not have given it to Frank. Then she added, "What about Nathalia? She has money. She has shared it. You are her father. What's hers is yours."

Such ridiculousness somehow made sense to Frank and his face lit up. "Yes. What's hers is mine." He repeated.

"Honey, we can't give up. We can't. We still have our children to take care of. Without money, without the company, what's going to happen to our Zack?" Anne went on.

As soon as Frank heard his son mentioned, he suddenly felt motivated. "I know. I won't give up."

While Frank was plotting to turn to Nathalia for help, Nathalia was accompanying Spencer to the hospital to take his mother home.

As soon as Mrs. Davidson felt better, she was asking to go home. With the doctor's permission, Spencer agreed. When Mrs. Davidson found out that Nathalia lived next door, she put up a funny face.

Used to being looked up and down by others, Nathalia didn't mind. She waved her hands, said goodbye, and went home.

Just after she had got changed to her pajamas, Spencer rang. "Nathalia, can you please come and stay with my mum for a bit? I need to go out. I've got some work to do."

Spencer had been creating opportunities for Nathalia and Mrs. Davidson to get along, intentionally and accidentally. Nathalia was used to it and said, "Yeah. No problem."

When Nathalia came in, Mrs. Davidson was seated on the sofa, looking into the distance as if she was pondering upon something.

Nathalia looked around, frowned, and wondered where the maid was?

"Cough, cough." Nathalia got Mrs. Davidson's attention. "Would you like a cup of tea, Mrs. Davidson? I know you like it with soymilk, right?"

Mrs. Davidson looked up, observed Nathalia for a good few seconds, and said, "You don't need to please me."

Though thanks to Spencer, the two had met and spent some time together, this was the first time they were together alone.

She sounds a bit bitter. Huh. Nathalia thought. "Your son asked me to accompany you for a bit while he's out. I'm not here to please you." Nathalia said casually.

Her answer seemed to startle Mrs. Davidson. "Huh? But don't you want to be with my son?"

Nathalia sat herself down opposite Mrs. Davidson, picked up a packet of crisps on the table, and opened it. "If we are meant to be, we will be. I won't please you to be with your son." She answered indifferently.

"I know you are just pretending that you don't care." Mrs. Davidson wasn't convinced at all. "I know how excellent my son is, and so many girls want to be with him. Don't think that you can win his heart so easily." She sounded like a kid protective of her favorite toys."

Nathalia had gradually gotten used to Mrs. Davidson's nonsensical way of thinking. She was like a kid who had not learned to hide or disguise her emotions and thoughts.

"Huh? I have money, and I'm pretty. Lots of guys want me to be their girlfriend." Nathalia defended, playing along.

They had been getting along quite well, and Mrs. Davidson actually rather enjoyed Nathalia's company, though she couldn't help feeling protective of her son and insecure now and then, hence, she would sound bitter.

Mrs. Davidson frowned and said, "Well, you can love my son, but you can't take him away from me."

Nathalia understood her worries and assured her with a sweet smile, "He's always your son, and you are always the one he loves the most. Nothing and nobody will change that."

Are all the mothers like her? They hope their son finds the love of their life, but at the same time, they want to keep their son to themselves. Nathalia wondered.

Nathalia handed the packet of crisps to Mrs. Davidson, she took some and enjoyed the crunchy texture.

"What do you love about my son? His money? His good look?" Mrs. Davidson asked while thinking, she is pretty, genuine, has a lovely smile, and is good to me, but the problem is my son loves her too much. That's not good.

"I love him not because he's rich or good-looking," Nathalia said matter-of-factly.

"Huh? Then why?"

Nathalia recalled the unforgettable memories of Spencer, and a sweet smile appeared on her face. "I love him because of his unswerving love for me; because whatever happens, he trusts me; he stands by me; he protects me; because he's thoughtful; because he never asks for anything in return; his love is true and pure, and it makes me strong because I know every time when I need help, he is there for me."

Mrs. Davidson listened tentatively. She was touched.

"What if I don't allow him to be with you?" She tested.

Nathalia shrugged her shoulders and said, "It doesn't matter if you allow him or not. What matters if he wants to or not. If he says he doesn't love me, I will leave straight away and never see him again."

Mrs. Davidson pouted her lips like a sulking kid and said, "It's easier said than done."

Nathalia was aware of Mrs. Davidson's past experience, but she thought it was ok and just be honest. "If I say I will do something, I do it."

Mrs. Davidson thought about it and found it unfair to her son, "Well, now I don't think you love my son very much. If you do, you won't give up so easily." My silly boy adores this girl. Every time he sees her, he just can't keep his eyes off her.

"What is true love then? If he doesn't love you, do you persist and keep following him? Do you think that's true love? I call it stubborn and possessive. I believe love requires self-respect."

What's meant to be will be. The universe has got the best arranged for all of us. Love can't be forced. Nathalia thought. And that was why she didn't like Anna, who became possessive, selfish, even cruel in the name of her so-called love. Such love was frightening.

Nathalia made tea and handed a cup to Mrs. Davidson, who took it, but just held it in her hands and was not drinking it. Her mind was busy thinking.

"You are a strange girl. Men are all alike, never consistent in love. What if one day he doesn't love you anymore..."

Nathalia cut in and said teasingly, "Then, I will just tell him, 'see you later'. He's not the only man in the world. There are many good guys around. I'm lovable, pretty, and rich. It can't be hard to find someone that loves me, right?"