"Shut up!" Zack cut in sharply. He felt tremendous injustice growing into flaming hate. "They beat me up. THEY should ask me for forgiveness! I'm going to sue them all and send them to jail!" How dare you fuck with me! You are all dead.
The crowd sneered and laughed.
"If anything happens to us, the world will know it's the Carter's that have done it. And you will get your punishment."
"Miss Nathalia Carter, you see, there's no point being nice to these people. They've got no hearts."
"They don't understand what gratitude is. The more you tolerate them, the worse they will treat you."
"Some people are born evil, and Zack Carter is a good example."
Nathalia glanced at Zack pitifully and sighed, "But he's still my brother. Even if he kills someone and gets to send to jail, he's still my family, and the bond between us remains."
Anne heard between the lines, and her sobbing came to a sudden pause as she thought she killed someone and got sent to jail? Isn't she cursing my son?! What the hell is she implying?
The crowd was touched by Nathalia's kindness and felt protective of her. Someone warned her kindly, "You treat them like a family, but they treat you like an enemy. If you don't protect yourself, one day, they will get rid of you, possibly, completely."
Nathalia looked shocked for a bit, then shook her head and protested, "No. No. They won't harm me. We are a family."
"A family. If they did see you as part of the family, they would not have treated you like this."
"Miss Nathalia Carter, you are kind, but you need to learn to protect yourself. They are not the people to be kind to."
The crowd consented.
Frank was fuming while listening. He couldn't take it anymore. "Enough! Don't you try to drive a wedge between my family? Nathalia, take no notice of the nonsense they speak."
It's driving him crazy. How did all this happen?
He was in a rush to take Anne and Zack to the hospital, yet he couldn't just leave under such circumstances. He was suspicious and cautious of Nathalia.
One of the reporters remarked, "Nonsense? Do you think what we are saying is nonsense? You robbed your daughter of her shares. You allowed your son to beat her, and now you forced her to defend your son. Does this make sense to you? Do you even see her as your own daughter at all?"
"To have a father like you is worse than not having one!"
"I would suggest you take the DNA paternity test..."
The Carters had clearly established a hostile relationship with the media, and soon they would have to pay for it.
Frank couldn't stand it anymore. He swung his arm in defeat "The conference is over. Please all leave now."
His plan had been utterly destroyed. Instead of clearing up the accusations against his son, it had confirmed the truth of them all.
The reporter who handed out the copies shouted out loud, "Aha, like father, like son. No wonder. Miss Nathalia Carter, I would be very careful if I were you, they are certainly capable of murdering for anything they want, even their own daughter or sister."
Nathalia reacted to the word 'murdering' and looked at her family dubiously.
Frank was furious. He instantly picked up a bottle of water from the table and threw it at the reporter, "Asshole! Get out! You are not welcome here."
Frank made sure he remembered the reporter's face and swore that he would be severely punished.
The reporter swiftly dodged the bottle, and aggressively, he challenged, "Is it because you are scared? You are scared because I've told the truth. I've revealed the truth that you are planning of murdering Miss Nathalia Carter and take all her heritage."
Frank clenched his fists tight, his eyes red with roaring rage. "Mister, I'm going to sue you for defamation. You will hear from my lawyer soon."
The reporter smiled confidently, "Great. I look forward to that. I'll see you in court, and let's show the world the real Mr. Frank Carter."
Ha. What am I to be scared about? I'm just a poor reporter, and I have got nothing to lose while you may lose everything.
Frank was taken aback by the reporter's fearlessness. He thought for a second and changed his mind. I need to be careful. I can't underestimate him.
"You are a nobody and do not worth my time. I will let you off this time." He dismissed the idea. Then, he announced, "Everyone, I promise I will look after my daughter, Nathalia, the best I can as a father. I will not take anything from her. As soon as the business gets back to normal, I will return all the shares to Nathalia."
Anne Carter immediately looked up at Frank in disbelief. She was about to say something but got shut up by a warning glance from Frank.
Tears filled Nathalia's eyes. Gently she said, "Dad, you don't have to do this. I trust you."
Frank put his arm around Nathalia affectionately, "My good girl. It's an evil world, but Dad will protect you from any harm."
Nathalia felt disgusted by his pretentiousness. You are the one who harms me the most. She thought.
But she hid her true feelings and instead replied, "Thank you, Dad. I love you."
The security guards were asking the reporters to leave. Those that accepted the bribe felt that they had not done their job properly and were obliged to make up for it. Someone asked, "Miss Nathalia Carter, do you forgive your brother for what he did? Do you not hate him?"
Nathalia looked gentle and compassionate. She smiled and answered calmly, "How can I ever hate my own brother. We are a family. No matter how he treats me, I shall not blame him. He's still a boy, and sometimes he makes mistakes. But I'm sure he will learn from his mistakes and grow to be a better person. Right, Zack?"
Zack had just been beaten badly and was covered in pain. He blamed Nathalia for it and wished he had beaten her to death earlier
"Shut up! You are no one to speak to me! You..."
Startled, Nathalia trembled slightly. Her face went pale, and she bit her lips.
The crowd was impressed by Nathalia's compassion and forgiveness, as well as Zack's petulance, brutality, and tyranny. The sharp contrast was apparent to everyone. Even those corrupted had to admit that Nathalia was indeed kind-hearted, a good daughter and a good sister.
Frank stopped Zack with a totally unexpected slap on his face. The whole room went silent.
Zack was shocked, hurt, and furious. "Dad! You slapped me?!"
He had always been the king at home. Everyone had to please him. Even if he caused any trouble, his parents would take care of it for him.
But now, the person that had loved him the most slapped him in public. He felt like he had been thrown out of his throne, greatly humiliated.