Tommy ignored the struggling Laura in his arms. There were some things he needed to clarify with her. Instead of taking her back to the private room, he left and went to the basement parking garage of the mall.He threw Laura into his car, gazing at her sternly and seriously, and called her by her full name. "Laura Crosby, are you aware of what you're doing?"Laura was still crying, and her face was covered in tears.Her eyes were red as she glared at him. She gave him a look filled with grievance. "Why do you care what I do? Does it have anything to do with you?""What you do is not my concern, but I know you're doing it because of me," he said.Tommy looked at her coldly and said in a harsh tone, "How old are you? Look around, do you see any other girls going to the bathroom to drink beer like you? You're really something else.""Who said I'm doing this because of you? Don't flatter yourself."Laura didn't want to face him. She wiped the tears from her cheek and made a move to
Tommy felt that Laura should give up on him. He then opened the car door so she could get out whenever she wanted.Laura suddenly froze. For an inexplicable reason, despite having gotten a definite answer, she didn't cry as heart-wrenchingly as she did before.Instead, she calmed down and sat there, lost in thought. Although she still felt heartbroken, she no longer wanted to show that she cared about him.He clearly told her that he liked someone else, and if she kept making a scene in front of him, it would be very undignified of her.It would also make others think that she had no morals and that she was trying her best to seduce someone else's boyfriend.Since Tommy made his stance clear, she naturally wouldn't have any inappropriate thoughts about him anymore.Laura wiped the tears from her cheeks and agreed with what he said. "Alright, I will let go, forget, and distance myself."It seemed like she had truly given up. She didn't look at him again. She simply opened the car
Anthony knew Lena was very stubborn and that he couldn't persuade her. But he still felt sorry for her having to kneel outside in the cold.With no other choice, he walked up the steps to the entrance of Serenity Hall and addressed Branden, "Branden, if you truly want her to come down the mountain with me, then meet with her once and make her give up on any hopes."If you keep avoiding seeing her, she won't leave with me."I'm asking you for a favor. Could you meet her just once?"Branden certainly knew that Lena had made every dish he had eaten in the past month.Even after a month of him not seeing her, she still didn't give up hope. It seemed that the only way she might choose to leave was if she understood why he didn't want to see her.With a sigh, Branden's slightly weathered voice drifted out through the gap in the door. "Go ahead and let her in!"Anthony heard this and laughed. He quickly walked down the steps to help Lena up, saying, "Get up quickly. Branden is willing
Lena stared at Branden's back and realized that he was determined to send her down the mountain. She had to leave, too, for Branden's sake.As she continued to kneel, she bowed deeply three times toward Branden's direction.After she was done, she stood up with reddened eyes and looked at his back, saying, "Master, I'm leaving. Please take good care of yourself."Branden remained silent and didn't turn back.Even though Lena was reluctant to leave, she eventually turned around and, with heavy steps, walked away from Serenity Hall.As soon as she stepped out the door, Anthony draped the cloak over her shoulders. He held her close and asked, "Are you okay?"Lena paused and looked at the view from the peak of Mt. Floust—the place where Branden lived with Solace and several of her junior disciples. She was filled with deep and complex emotions as she looked around.If it was possible, and if Branden would allow it, she truly wished to spend her entire life with them on this mountain
"Lena, I'll miss you every day," the last junior disciple called out.Anthony looked at the group of children and felt quite touched by how deeply they cared about them.He reflected back on the time he spent with them. He knew that they were always very kind to him. He said, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Lena. I'll send some people over later with things for you. Is there anything you particularly want?"All the junior disciples looked at Anthony.Although they usually wanted many things, when they thought about how Lena was leaving them, they realized at that moment nothing compared to having family by their side.Everyone looked at Anthony with reddened eyes, unable to speak.Anthony knew that they were raised by Branden, and as such, they would naturally not ask him for anything.He made a mental note of it and planned to have someone bring some stuff over later.He looked at Solace and walked over. He crouched down in front of her, gently patted her head, and gazed
To get back to Emeria from Mt. Floust, Lena and Anthony had to pass through Amberville. But the sky had already turned dark before they arrived there.The two of them settled into a hotel in a small town.After having dinner, Anthony took a shower and came out to find Lena still sitting on the living room couch of their suite, lost in thought.Anthony, wrapped in a bathrobe, walked over and sat down next to her. He instinctively wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her close.Who could have known that his action would startle Lena?She reacted extremely quickly and immediately moved aside to avoid him.Anthony was puzzled and frowned, unsure why she was acting this way."What's wrong?" he asked.Lena rejected him when he was on the mountain, and he understood why then. It was a place meant for quiet meditation, and Branden was also there.They were no longer on the mountain, so why was she still like this?Lena's eyes flickered with a hint of unease. "I-I don't really
"The moment Laura saw Lena, she couldn't contain her excitement, so she shouted from the stairs, "Aunt Lena, Aunt Lena, what brings you here?"Lena had assumed that Laura would probably be at university at this time. She hadn't expected her to be at home.When she saw Laura rush over, Lena quickly got up to meet her. They hugged each other as they felt the joy of reuniting after a long time apart."How have you been lately? Did you miss me?" Lena asked.Lena truly felt happy from the bottom of her heart to see Laura.Laura felt unhappy again when she thought about her heartbreak. She pouted and scrunched up her face as if she was about to cry."I missed you a lot, but I'm not doing well myself," Laura told her."Hmm? Why aren't you doing well?" Lena was somewhat confused.It wasn't possible that the people here would treat her poorly. After all, Lena knew best what kind of people Margot and Curtis were. Why would they mistreat Laura?"I'm just unhappy, but seeing you makes me
Lena followed Laura upstairs and gently said to her, "Laura, I understand that you were close to Royce, but his death can't be blamed on the Morris family. Can we just move past this?"Previously, Lena would have blamed those associated with the Morris family for Royce's death. But she realized something after Branden's teachings.Some things were simply meant to happen that way, and no one could change their outcomes.Since Branden told her to let it go, this should mean that the Morris family was not to blame. Therefore, she shouldn't continue to dwell on Royce's death.Laura stopped and turned to look at Lena."Aunt Lena, why can't we blame the Morris family for Uncle Royce's death? If it weren't for them taking relentless control of the royal family's power, would Uncle Royce have opposed them?""Uncle Royce wouldn't have gone against them, and he wouldn't be pushed to the point of poisoning himself to death."In Laura's eyes, Royce's death was definitely connected to the Mo