Cameron finally found himself in front of a mysterious mirror, but the guiding voice had disappeared, leaving him alone in silence.


    With a casual, almost idental touch, Cameron illuminated the mirror. He watched, amazed, as the light scattered and reassembled, transforming the once blurry surface into a crystal-clear image. It was Rainbow Bridge.


    A little Nathalie was sprinting barefoot over the cold, grimy ground, with Miranda, disheveled and wild-eyed, hot on her heels, brandishing a broomstick. "I''ll teach you a lesson, you ungrateful brat! Who said you could sneak off to school? Who''ll take care of me if you''re off learning?"


    As Nathalie dashed away, she desperately pleaded, "Mom, I promise it won''t interfere with my chores. Please, let me go to school. Mr. Roberts says I have a knack for learning. Today, I even outperformed all the other students."


    "Mom, if you let me go to school, I can get into college and earn a lot of money. Then, I can take care of you. Please, let me go."


    Miranda, out of breath and coughing violently, pointed a finger at Nathalie, her voice seething with anger. "Run if you dare! I''ll count to three, and if you''re not back, don''t bother calling me your mother again."


    Nathalie nced back, her face drained of color at the sight of her furious mother, and reluctantly trudged back.


    Miranda''s broom showed no mercy as it struck Nathalie''s back.


    Nathalie clenched her teeth, tears brimming, as she kept apologizing, "Mom, I''m sorry. I won''t upset you again."


    Miranda''s anger poured out, the broomnding on Nathalie like relentless rain. "Still want to go to school?"


    "No, I won''t go again." Nathalie sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Worn out, Miranda copsed onto the ground. She continued her bitter tirade, "You were born unlucky, unlike your sister. Don''t ever dream of achieving anything."


    Nathalie, biting her lip, swallowed her sorrow and helped Miranda up. Her submissive demeanor was heart-wrenching. "Mom, let me take you home."


    Miranda red at her but epted


    the help, leaning heavily on Nathalie''s small frame, not missing


    a chance to belittle her further. "Since Thad you, my health''s never been the same. You owe me for life, Nettie, and you must take care of me."


    "Mom, don''t worry, I''ll take care of you forever."


    "Hmph. At least you are not ungrateful."


    Suddenly, a schrly-looking man, wearing gold-rimmed sses and exuding an air of elegance, approached Miranda and Nathalie. With urgency in his voice, he said, "Mrs. Brown, I''m Nellie''s teacher. I came here today. Look..."


    He pulled out a stack of papers from


    his bag, "These are Nellie''s exam papers. This set of math problems is the toughest ever given in the Capital, and Nellie scored a perfect mark. The next best in our ss was 89. Even Cameron Dawson, a former mathpetition champion, only scored 98. Nellie truly is gifted; she has to continue her education..."


    Miranda eyed him with suspicion, retorting, "Why should I trust you? I know my daughter. She''s barely had any schooling. How could she be as brilliant as you say? I think you have other intentions for my daughter and are trying to trick me." Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Mr. Roberts were both embarrassed and frustrated, "Why are you so unreasonable?"


    Unable to bear seeing her kind teacher being ndered, Nathalie could only send him away, ashamed. "Sir, you should leave. I don''t even like studying. I''m sorry."