Nelly smiled as Thalia spoke.
“Your promise is enough.” She nodded in agreement.
Despite that, Thalia was so moved that she felt a whirlwind of emotions within.
In the next second, she lunged forward and hugged Nelly tightly.
The gesture surprised Nelly .
Thalia held her. “I don't know what to say, Nelly . I know that words won't help much, but rest assured, I will do everything I can to make you feel better.”
Nelly stiffened slightly before gradually relaxing.
It does not feel that uncomfortable after all.
She smiled. “Mmm. Seeing all of you work so hard for my sake gives me a sense of pride I can't put into words.”
Aware that Nelly was teasing her on purpose, Thalia held on even tighter. “Even at a time like this, you can still make jokes.”
Nelly chuckled softly. “Haven't you hugged me enough yesterday?” she said with some effort. “I will be the one feeling embarrassed if you don't stop soon.”
Thalia was slightly taken aback before gradually letting go of her friend. “What do you mean?”
Seeing her bewildered expression, Nelly playfully raised an eyebrow. “Don't remember anything?”
“Remember what?” Thalia asked, a sense of foreboding creeping in as she observed Nelly 's expression.
“Just as I thought. You have zero recollection,” Nelly said.
“What do you mean? What am I supposed to remember?” asked Thalia.
“Do you remember getting drunk at the bar yesterday and beating someone up to a pulp?”
Thalia did have a hazy recollection of that incident. Somebody tried to strike up a conversation with her when she was in a bad mood the night before, which led to a conflict, and she ended up giving them a beating.
Thalia nodded. “I remember.”
“Do you remember what the person you beat up looked like?” Nelly asked.
“Well, I'm not too sure about that.” Thalia shook her head. “I just clobbered him without paying much attention to the details.”
Nelly raised an eyebrow. “So, at which point did your memory failed you?”
At the prompt, Thalia tried her best to recall the events of the night before, but all she drew was a blank.
“Do you know how you got back?”
Thalia shook her head.
“Very good,” Nelly said.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Thalia asked. Nelly 's teasing smile was giving her an increasingly uneasy feeling.
“You drank so much yesterday and ended up hitting someone. Then, you continued drinking. The owner of the bar called the police, and you were taken to the hospital. After they examined you and found nothing wrong, you were taken to the precinct. Finally, Spencer and Tony had to come and get you.”
Thalia's eyes widened when she heard the tale. “The precinct?”
Nelly nodded. “Mm hmm.”
Thalia furrowed her brows. “Well...”
Noticing her friend getting nervous, Nelly said, “Don't worry. It was fortunate they found out in time. In the end, they sought Dave, paid him off, and he didn't pursue the matter. That was how they got you out.”
Thalia heaved a sigh of relief. “I think I can't drink casually anymore.”
“I'm glad you're aware of it.” Nelly nodded approvingly before adding, “With your antics yesterday, you now owe Dave another favor.”
At that mention, Thalia said, “I've lost track of the favors I owe. If that's the case, so be it.”
That's how Thalia always is.
Nelly raised an eyebrow, remaining silent.
“Is there anything else?” Thalia asked Nelly cautiously. She remained quite concerned.
After all, being a person of renown, Thalia could not afford to embarrass herself, especially not in front of her rivals.
Pretending as if nothing had happened, Nelly began to speak slowly as if narrating a story, “There's not much else to it. After Spencer brought you back, he gave you something for the hangover, and you fell asleep here.”
Thalia heaved a sigh of relief. Then, as if recalling something, she asked, “What did you mean when you said I held you yesterday?”
“Oh, about that. It's nothing, really. You just had too much to drink last night. You were sound asleep, but you suddenly got up, wanting to leave. Spencer tried to stop you, but you ended up getting into a scuffle with him.”
Thalia gaped in disbelief. “Then? What happened next?”
“Tony was there, too. You followed him back to their room, and apparently, you were weeping on his bed, refusing to leave.”
Thalia was dumbfounded.
“Aside from using up a whole pack of tissues, which wasn't even the worst part, you left his bed in a complete mess.”
The color drained from Thalia's face.
As she watched her friend's horror-struck expression, Nelly could not help bursting into laughter.
“I-Is there more?” she asked.
“There's more. After weeping in Tony 's room, you came to mine, still crying, and clung to me, refusing to let go. In the end, you even fell asleep in my room.” Nelly thought for a moment, then added, “That's about it, I think.”
Thalia was furious.
This is so godd*mn humiliating.
Despite feeling incredibly awkward, she plucked up the courage to ask, “Is what you're saying really true?”
“What do you think?” Nelly retorted.
Thalia, of course, did not remember anything, but she was aware that she had a tendency to behave this way after drinking; she had been ridiculed more than once or twice during her time on Darknetz. However, she later learned not to drink too much and to try her best to stay sober.
I couldn't help myself yesterday, I ended up forgetting everything.
Thalia blinked. “Well, who else knows about this?”
“Hmm...” Nelly 's pondering hum stretched on for so long that it tormented Thalia.
Nelly raised her brows. “Alpha Kilian , I think? Probably only him.”
Thalia massaged her forehead.
D*mn. Godd*mn it. I'll be a laughingstock after this.
Nelly gave a light smile at Thalia's regretful expression.
“Did he not throw me out?” Thalia asked after a moment, gazing up at Nelly .
“He actually wanted to, but I stopped him,” Nelly said calmly.
With one hand covering her face, Thalia rubbed her forehead. “I'd rather be thrown out...” she murmured. I wouldn't have embarrassed myself, at least.
Suddenly, Nelly seemed to recall something. “Oh, that's right,” she said, looking at her friend. “You even advised me to break up with him. You told me to come with you and that you would take care of me.”
Thalia was stunned. “Was I really that impulsive?”
Nelly raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
Thalia was utterly humiliated. “It's all over,” she murmured to himself. “There goes my reputation. How am I supposed to look anyone in t eye now, especially at DX? I can't believe I embarrassed myself before my rivals.”
Nelly let out a soft laugh when she heard her friend's words.
Only Thalia can be like this. Even in her embarrassment, there is still an abundance of confidence.
“How could you be laughing? You should have stopped me?”
“I did,” Nelly said seriously, “but I couldn't hold you back.”
Thalia was not amused.
What else could I say? Sam will surely skin me alive if he finds out about this. Oh, how wonderful it would be if I could turn back time!
In the midst of Thalia's internal anguish, the door was pushed open from the outside, and a figure walked in.
The two of them looked toward the door. Thalia had already prepared to hide herself. However, upon seeing the person who came in, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“ Nelly , I knew I'd find you here. I've been looking for you for ages!” With a playful tone, Donna went straight to Nelly 's side.
Nelly looked at her with a nonchalant gaze. “What do you need me for?”
“I have a little secret to share with you,” Donna whispered.
“What little secret?” Nelly asked.
At that moment, Donna 's gaze shifted toward Thalia, who was standing off to the side.
Thalia took a deep breath, looking at Donna with furrowed brows. “Donna , we're best friends, aren't we? So, are you keeping secrets from me now?”
Donna sighed. “No, it's not about me.” she said, expressing a sense of helplessness. “It's a family matter.”
“Family matter?” Nelly raised an eyebrow, then seemed to understand. “Is it about Tony and Ben ?”
“ Nelly , you already know?” Donna asked in surprise.
“What's wrong with them?” Nelly asked directly.
Donna furrowed her brows. “ Nelly , don't you already know?”
“I'm just speculating that it has something to do with them, but the specifics...” Nelly shook her head.
Upon hearing that, Donna let out a soft sigh.
“Speak up. Thalia is one of us,” Nelly urged her to speak.
That single remark instantly lifted Thalia's previously despondent spirits. She looked at Nelly in slight surprise.
Donna glanced at Thalia, then nodded seriously before speaking. “Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that Tony and Ben are fighting, and it seems quite intense.”
After hearing that, Nelly nonchalantly nodded. “And then?”
“That's all. Aren't you curious, Nelly ?” Donna asked.
Nelly shook her head. “I'm not curious.”
“Why?”
“You're all mature children now, so isn't it normal to have your own issues? Besides, it's also normal for two boys to have some conflicts. Let them sort it out themselves. Do you expect me to manage your lives forever?” Nelly asked.
“Well—” Donna wanted to say something, but she felt that Nelly was particularly right.
Tony and Ben had only argued twice thus far in their lives. The first time happened overseas, but they were afraid of upsetting Nelly , so they made up before she returned home from work.
It was their second time fighting currently.
So, for a moment, Donna was somewhat at a loss for what to do.
At that moment, Nelly looked at her. “It's okay. Don't worry. They know what they're doing. It won't take too long for them to make up,” she said casually.
Listening, Donna nodded somewhat helplessly. “All right, then.”
It seemed that Nelly had noticed her daughter's displeasure. After a moment of thought, she looked at the latter and began to speak. “Donna , remember this. Whenever people interact, conflicts and problems will inevitably arise. The most important thing is to find a way to solve them yourself. If you can solve it, then solve it. If you can't, it means it's beyond your capabilities, so why dwell on it unnecessarily? If Tony and Ben haven't said anything, it means they have their own solutions. Therefore, you don't need to worry about this matter.”
Listening to Nelly 's words, Donna nodded. “I understand, Nelly . It just feels a bit awkward to me.”
“I understand what you're feeling, but you all will grow up, and I will age too. You can't always come to me with your problems every time something arises, can you?”
“You'll never get old!” Donna immediately said, acting coyly.
Nelly was amused, and the expression in her eyes softened. “In that case, I also hope that you all can solve problems independently. If you really can't handle it, only then do you come to me for help, okay?”
“Okay!” Donna immediately laughed, making an “okay” gesture with her hand.
At that moment, Thalia, who was standing by the side, listened, and her eyes widened in surprise.
That was the first time she had seen Nelly “educating” her child. No matter when, she could never have thought of, let alone uttered, such words.
She finally understood why those three children grew up to be so remarkable.
It wasn't just inherited genes at play there, but also the education imparted by Nelly .
Seeing Thalia standing there silently, Donna turned her gaze toward the latter. “Thalia, what's wrong?”
Thalia regained her senses and looked at them. “It's nothing. I was just a bit surprised to hear you say that, Nelly !”
“Surprised?” Nelly retorted.
“Isn't this surprising? I usually see mothers getting heartbroken for their children, even giving up everything for them. It's my first time seeing someone as indifferent as you!” Thalia said. Of course, that indifference didn't encompass everything.
Upon hearing that, Nelly laughed lightly and asked, “What would you do if you were in this situation?”
“Hmm...” Thalia pondered, “If it were up to me, I'd probably gather the two people involved, have them confess to each other, then give them a good scolding. After that, I'd make them shake hands and make peace.”
Listening intently, Nelly nodded thoughtfully. “What if it was your child who was being bullied outside?”
“In that case, those bullies shouldn't blame me for being unmerciful!” Thalia said, feeling a sense of involvement. She rolled up her sleeves as if ready for a fight.
Seeing her like this, Nelly couldn't help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” asked Thalia.
“I'm wondering if entrusting the child to you was a mistake!” Nelly said with a helpless smile.
Thalia was taken aback. “Hold on. If my child is bullied, shouldn't I fight back? Anyway, if it were my child, I wouldn't care about the consequences. I would definitely step in!”
“Aren't you afraid you'll be nurturing them to be violent?”
Thalia was slightly taken aback. “Really? Will they turn out to be violent?”
“In the long run, definitely!” Nelly said with absolute certainty.
“But I can't just stand by and watch my child get bullied!” said Thalia. She simply couldn't accept that.
“It all depends on who's doing the bullying,” Nelly said. “If it's between classmates, I prefer to let them sort it out themselves. But if it's an adult, I'm more inclined to agree with you, to let them have a taste of their own medicine.”
“Is there any difference?” Thalia retorted.
“The difference is, I'll be teaching my children to be independent and not to compromise their integrity. If someone their age bullies them, that's fair game. But if an adult bullies a child...” Nelly suddenly laughed. Her laugh was radiant, yet a hint of malice flashed in her eyes. “I will make them pay back in folds!”
In that regard, Nelly was no saint either. She always abided by the principle of not offending others unless they offend her first. But if someone did it on purpose, she would definitely not show mercy.
Looking at Nelly 's expression, Thalia felt indescribable complex emotions churning within her for a moment.
Nelly was like a beautiful and seemingly harmless poppy, yet not easily approachable or touchable.
It could be medicine, or it could be poison.