Spencer's eyes darkened as he scrutinized Nelly .
All he saw was a relaxed expression and a languid look in her eyes. Nowhere did he manage to find a hint of anger in her.
“Are you serious?” Spencer asked.
“Do I look like I'm joking?” Nelly countered. Nevertheless, Spencer was filled with hesitation still.
“Don't worry; your secret is safe with me. I'll definitely not tell Thalia about it.” Nelly made a last- ditch effort to reassure him.
Staring at her, Spencer paused momentarily before relenting in the end. “Fine, I'll tell you.” Nelly straightened her posture immediately and was all ears. “Go on.”
As Spencer took a deep breath, his eyes seemed to drift away to another time. “Many years ago, I met Thalia went I was traveling in a far-flung place...”
Nelly remained seated while listening to Spencer relate the past. When he finally got to the end, she couldn't help but knit her brows slightly.
“Are you saying...”
“That's right. That man was Thalia's father.” Spencer nodded as a sorrowful look descended upon his face.
If it wasn't for that, there was no way he would have rejected such a wonderful girl.
Nelly 's eyes began to sparkle gradually now that she finally knew what Spencer meant by owing Thalia his life.
Lips pursed and brows knitted, she finally understood how complicated the matter was. Any other reason would have been easier to overcome but to have killed her father...
Narrowing her eyes, Nelly nodded. “All right. I understand.”
Spencer gazed at her. “Nelly , I know the debt is mine and that I shouldn't burden you with it, but I'm left with no choice. Never have I hated myself so much for my own incompetence. If only it were possible, I would be willing to compensate you with my own life!”
“Spencer, you don't owe me anything. And don't you forget about the number of times you have saved me,” Nelly comforted him.
If not for Spencer back then, I would have been bullied terribly... Spencer stared at her, his eyes brimming with conflicting emotions.
“That's why you should go ahead and do whatever you want. I'm fine with it,” Nelly replied as she stared right into his eyes.
Spencer was shaken. “But you...”
“It's just an antidote, and it's not like my life is under immediate threat. Besides, there might only be one, but it isn't the only solution,” Nelly added.
“But what if...”
“That will be up to you. I have faith that with your capabilities, you'll definitely come up with something.”
Gazing into her eyes, Spencer felt torn inside.
Nonetheless, Nelly flashed a carefree smile. “Enough talk already. The matter's settled.” With that, she got up to leave. However, when something struck her at the last moment, she turned around. “By the way, I would suggest that you keep this from Thalia. Otherwise, she'll refuse to take the antidote.”
“Nelly ...”
Nelly grinned at him. “Also, no one can change the past. If you really feel that you have let Thalia down, leaving her isn't the right solution. Instead, making amends is!”
“Making amends?”
Nelly nodded. “Yes, making amends. Spend the rest of your life making it up to her as a way to repay your debt.”
When her words left Spencer stunned, the smiling Nelly got up and left.
Just when she placed her hand on the doorknob, Spencer stood up suddenly. “Nelly ...” Nelly stopped in her tracks.
“Thank you.”
Nelly turned around and said, “That's not what I want to hear.” “Don't worry. I'll do my very best to develop the antidote!”
“That's more like it.” Flashing a wide grin, Nelly opened the door and left.
Spencer's gaze was filled with conflicted emotions as he stared at her leaving silhouette. Once the door closed behind her, he tightly clenched both his fists.
After walking out the door, Nelly slumped against the wall right after she turned a corner.
As she lifted her head slightly, her reddened eyes betrayed her emotions despite the calm look on her face.
Her chest heaved as she tried to get a grip on herself.
She didn't regret the decision one bit but was nevertheless saddened by the outcome.
She had let her children and Alpha Kilian down, a feeling made worse when it came to Alpha Wade .
Earlier in her life, she had ignored their concerns in her pursuit of the truth. And now, she was disregarding their feelings again by unilaterally making a decision.
As a result, she had failed a duty as not just a granddaughter but also a mother. Leaning against the wall, Nelly took a long time to get her emotions under control.
It wasn't that she lacked the desire to continue living. The danger of coming over had required her to be prepared for death.
“But what if...”
Nelly 's eyelashes fluttered a moment before she replied without looking up, “No.”
As he stared at her, a solemn look descended upon Alpha Kilian 's face. He then got up to leave without another word.
In response, Nelly grabbed his sleeve. “Alpha Kilian .”
When the latter turned around, his expression couldn't be any frostier. Nelly hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, “Yes, I did see him.”
As Alpha Kilian stared at her, his eyes looked like a bottomless abyss, sending a chill down the spine of anyone who peered into them.
Nelly took a deep breath. “Alpha Kilian , the cure isn't the only one out there.”
The moment he heard those words, Alpha Kilian immediately knew the conclusion to their discussion. Just as he turned to leave, Nelly threw herself forward to hug him from behind.
“Listen to me, Alpha Kilian .” Nelly clung tightly to his back.
Alpha Kilian 's body trembled slightly as his fists clenched by his sides. His deep voice, tinged with suppressed emotion, rang out. “I'm not surprised by the choice that you made, but don't you think you're being too cruel to me, Nelly ?”
“I know,” Nelly murmured from behind him. “You're not the only one. I'm also being cruel to the children and Grandpa.”
“In that case, why can't you be a little more selfish?” Alpha Kilian asked.
At that moment, Nelly released her grip and circled to his front. As she raised her gaze to look at him, it was clear that she was trying hard to stay strong. “Alpha Kilian , you know, better than anyone else, that I'm not the kind that likes to sacrifice myself for others. In fact, I'm someone who will do anything to
protect myself...”
“Then?” Alpha Kilian stared intently at her, for he knew that there was no changing her mind. “But I don't like to be in the debt of others,” she added.
“Is that the decision you wanted to tell me about?” Alpha Kilian questioned.
“Thalia came here and got poisoned because of me. On top of that, she helped me in the hospital and protected the children time and again. After all that she has done, there's no way I can make the selfish choice,” Nelly explained.
“Nelly , when it comes to your life, it's all right to be a little selfish.”
“If Dave was in Thalia's position, what would you have done?” Nelly retorted. Alpha Kilian was stunned by the sudden question.
“Look, you would have made the same choice as I did,” Nelly added. “It's different—”
“No, it's not,” Nelly interrupted him.
“Dave and I have faced death countless times. Either one of us would have readily sacrificed ourselves for the other.”
“Are you saying that only your friend is considered true while mine isn't?” Nelly countered. “How are you even friends with Thalia?” Alpha Kilian snapped.
“How are we not?” Nelly threw the question back at him. “Nelly ...”
“Thalia and I have known each other for three years now. Even though she doesn't know my identity, I have always known hers.”
“Nelly ...”
“The fact that we have not faced death together doesn't mean our friendship is less significant
compared to yours. To me, she has long become a friend of mine.” Nelly enunciated every word of hers clearly.
Slightly shaken by the fact she was angry, Alpha Kilian comforted her, “Nelly , that's not what I meant.”
“I don't have many friends, Alpha Kilian , but you're well aware that once I've decided to care about someone, I'll never change my decision,” Nelly asserted.
Alpha Kilian replied indignantly, “Nelly , you're only saying all these to stop me from going over.” “Even though that's my objective, those words still come from the bottom of my heart.”
“Are you planning to let me watch you suffer again?” Alpha Kilian asked, his eyes slightly reddened.
Looking at him, Nelly took a step forward, “Alpha Kilian , I understand how cruel this is for you. I'm sorry, but you'll have to bear with this pain. Just think of it as my vengeance over what you have done to me in the past, all right?”
“Nelly , those are two entirely different matters!”
Nelly leaned closer to assuage his fears with a hug. “I know, Alpha Kilian . I guarantee that I'll stay alive come hell or high water.”
Cognizant that Nelly had made up her mind, Alpha Kilian knew that his struggles and protests would only fall on deaf ears.
Standing still awkwardly, he asked, “What are you going to guarantee it with?” Nelly pressed herself against his chest. “With my honor.”