"Lina, this bag matches you too!"You should try everything on. I'll wait for you here!"Upon saying that, Gia sat on the sofa in the center of the boutique, and immediately someone served her exquisite-looking pastries.Lina felt like she was dreaming. Several shop assistants followed behind her, each with their hands full and a smile on their faces that only appeared when they saw potential customers.Seeing Lina hesitate to enter the fitting room, Gia walked over and took her hand with a light smile. "Okay, I'll tell you the truth. My parents did come into some money!""What?""It's a few stocks they bought in their early years." Gia's gaze was evasive. "Somehow, they skyrocketed recently to the point where they both start questioning reality! Heh, it's like a windfall, isn't it?"Lina was half skeptical. She occasionally paid attention to the stock market news too. Although she did not understand it well, she could still read charts and trends. In her impression, the stock m
Gia hung up, her palms sweating. She collected herself and turned back to the store, where Lina had not come out yet. Gia pretended as if nothing had happened and softly asked, "Lina, are you done trying the clothes on?""This one's a bit big. I need a smaller size..."Gia immediately asked the store staff to find the right size."Lina, um... Why don't you go ahead and try it on? I... I need to use the restroom!"Lina agreed, and Gia quickly rushed out of the store, heading toward the cafe on the basement floor.The man was already seated in the far corner. Gia's legs trembled slightly as she forced herself to appear calm and sat down in front of him. The man handed her a card. With most of his face covered by a baseball cap, the slight curve of his lips sent shivers down her spine."The boss says you've done a good job. This is your reward.""Thank you...""Your next task is to keep Lina here and ensure she doesn't appear in Centrolis."Gia's heart skipped a beat. "But... I p
"This must be the eldest son of the Hamertons, right?"Melvin suddenly turned his gaze toward Zuko at the dining table.Zuko paused and looked back at him.It was worth mentioning that Melvin also belonged to the category who aged well. Despite reaching middle age, he did not show any sign of that. On the contrary, he looked even more energetic than a young man.He also looked good. He bore a striking resemblance to Nicholas, and anyone could tell at first glance that they were cousins from the same lineage.Zuko frowned and glanced at the nearby Pamela, feeling something was off."Zuko, Uncle Melvin's talking to you!" Cordelia reminded him in a low voice. "Since you call Nicholas' Uncle Nicholas', just call him Uncle Melvin."Zuko nodded slightly, politely acknowledging it.Melvin smiled and praised him. "The children of the Hamertons are all outstanding, truly exceptional!""Mr. Melvin, you're too kind." Cordelia chuckled. "My eldest son is great in every way, except he does
Nicholas put a hand on Melvin's shoulder and gave it a firm pat. "You have to be there by then! You hear?"Melvin quickly nodded and raised his glass, celebrating their supposedly deep family bond.Zuko glanced at Pammy beside him. It seemed like she had not spoken a word since sitting at the dining table. She kept her head down, poking at the food on her plate with her fork, her large eyes seemingly holding countless thoughts.…On the way back, Zuko remained silent. Cordelia and Zephyr also looked grim.The situation was too bizarre.The person who had kidnapped Pammy years ago was a distant relative of Nicholas, someone almost completely unrelated to him. He had just risked it to get some money. Now, the person who had brought Pammy back was Nicholas' cousin.Before Nicholas acquired his current wealth, none of his relatives had been willing to associate with him."Honey, I'm a little worried." Zephyr spoke softly. "That relative of Nicholas kidnapped Pammy for money back th
The phone rang for a while without anyone answering, making Zuko even more anxious. His face turned pale, and tiny beads of sweat formed on his nose.By then, the car had already entered Hamerton Manor.As expected, Cordelia had fallen asleep in the car. Zephyr made a gesture for everyone to stay quiet and carefully carried her out of the car.Toph, wearing headphones and whistling, watched his father's back and almost had "envious" written on his forehead."Ah, I wonder when I'll meet someone I like. Just like dad doting on mom, I want to dote on her forever! Right, bro?"Zuko did not react.Toph then noticed that his brother's face had turned pale with a look of tension."What's wrong?" asked Toph.Zuko glanced at him indifferently, telling him to go back and rest, then he walked briskly to a secluded corner of the courtyard. He dialed the number repeatedly, but no one answered. With each passing minute, his heart grew more troubled.Countless possibilities filled his mind.
Zuko looked at Toph and replied in a low voice, "What nonsense are you on when nothing has been confirmed?"Toph smirked suggestively. "Zuko, when you say 'nothing's confirmed', are you referring to your engagement with Pammy or your girlfriend from Jangasas?""You...""Don't hit me!" Toph protested preemptively.Zuko clenched his fist but gave him a stern glare.Toph had always been mischievous and seemed to be able to guess what was on his mind. Sometimes he made him feel so caught that he wanted to tie him up and give him a good beating."Hey, bro, let me sort things out for you!" Toph grinned, extending his arm to put it around Zuko's neck. Then, he suddenly thought of something and looked at him with a strange expression. "How are you thanking me once I sort things out?""Should I give you a punch or two?" suggested Zuko."No." Toph became serious. "Bro, if you think I've sorted it out correctly, how about showing me a photo of your girlfriend?"As soon as he finished spe
Zuko released Toph, and the two of them walked side by side in the garden. They both had lean and perfect figures—one walked calmly while the other rolled his shoulder, which felt as if it was twisted off, complaining softly.Zuko smiled triumphantly and hooked an arm around Toph's neck to pull him over.Toph was often unreliable, but what he had just said was deeply etched in Zuko's mind—"You haven't given your first kiss to anyone yet, right? Hurry back to Jangasas and kiss her!"'Hmm, I ought to… kiss her first.'Zuko could not help the upward turn of the corners of his mouth. He licked his lips as his heart began to flutter."Zuko? Zuko!" Toph yelled, snapping Zuko out of his thoughts."What's wrong with you?" Toph looked somewhat begrudging. "I was talking to you just now, and you weren't listening!"Yeah, although the older brother sometimes bullied the younger brother growing up, the two of them had an unbreakable bond. They could talk about anything, and no matter what T
"Well..." Toph scratched his head.He had only seen Pammy today. How could he have observed her closely? Besides, Pammy had been keeping her head down the whole time, and he had only caught a glimpse of her resemblance to Nicholas in those rare moments when she looked up.Seeing his brother unable to answer after a long pause, Zuko pursed his lips and gave him a disdainful look."But it's a direction," he muttered to himself in a low voice. "Perhaps I can start here and find out more!"This was the last resort he had come up with for himself. Any approach would do—just not the one involving holding hands and kissing!"It's getting late. Let's go back to the house and rest," said Zuko.Toph was also a bit tired, so he agreed and followed his brother with a yawn.However, Zuko walked unusually slowly and kept his head down, looking at his phone while walking."Bro, what are you looking at?" asked Toph."The latest schedules..." muttered Zuko.Toph was perplexed. "Flight schedul
"Only Morpheus and Sephy aren't like that. They respect and understand me. Sephy told me once, 'One's appearance doesn't indicate anything. A clean heart is what truly matters!'"Rebecca chuckled dismissively."You're a psychologist, yet you fail to grasp this," Wynn said coldly. "Actually, I pity you. You could have stepped out, yet you insist on dwelling on the trivialities."Morpheus has psychological barriers, a consequence of returning from the battlefield. No one has cured his PTSD except Sephy... It shows that a true psychologist is never just a title."What truly heals everything is love!"-One particular morning a year later, sunlight streamed through sheer cream curtains onto the floor.Persephone was sound asleep when she suddenly felt something pressing down on her... Then, Morpheus' strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. She drowsily opened her eyes to find him sealing her lips with heated kisses.Over the year, his kissing skills had improved, and Persepho
With Morpheus' involvement, the police didn't slack off and quickly found Rebecca.That day, Rebecca was preparing to escape from a small port. The boat she had found was an illegally operating one.As she was about to board, piercing sirens sounded nearby.The boat owner, enraged upon hearing the sirens, grabbed Rebecca by her hair and pushed her into the water.Rebecca screamed for help, but he roared, "I didn't expect you to be sent by the cops!""I'm not..." Rebecca choked on water. "Sir, let's leave now. Your boat is fast. As long as we reach the open sea, no one will catch you!""Dream on!" The boat owner wanted to strangle her. "Do you not understand? These sirens are from the royal guards! Who did you bitch provoke?"Rebecca was dumbfounded. Being a foreigner, she naturally didn't understand the local affairs in the Southeast Aciatic region.The police and royal guards quickly caught up, armed, and surrounded them.Rebecca turned pale and trembled all over, her gaze gr
"You had no choice on the battlefield."Persephone looked at him with her crystal eyes. There was a magical power in them. Even if a devil was tearing him apart, her eyes would always bring him back to light.She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Though you killed your father, you saved the country.""Do you really… think so?"She nodded. "You're not at fault. He was the one who made a mistake. You were just fulfilling your job as a general to protect the country."But I also understand that he's your father who brought you up, after all. You guys must have had happy days before that happened, right?"Morpheus held his head low in silence."You did well as the protector of the country," she said softly. "But as a son, you can secretly pay homage to him."Persephone held his hand. "Reconcile with your father, Morpheus. You'll also reconcile with yourself by doing that, okay?"He was stunned for a long time and felt a lump in his throat.-Morpheus stayed with Persephone in the
"No way!" Christopher smirked, glancing at Morpheus. "To him, you're his only princess! I just got lucky for the princess carry, thanks to you!""Yeah, at least you're self-aware!" Persephone nodded, rubbing her chin."We've known each other for so long! What kind of person do you think I am?" Christopher laughed. "I can be a bit shameless at times, but..."But upon learning that the one she loved was the unbeatable god of war, he willingly stepped back, offering his blessings with a smile."Okay, okay. You two stop crowding around me!" Christopher waved his hand. "Sephy needs more rest, and I'd like to get some more sleep, too! Once we heal, let's go out and have some fun together!""You're still thinking about fun?" Morpheus' deep voice intervened with a wry smile. "With the factory explosion incident, the royal family is furious and will thoroughly investigate it. Many people will probably be coming to talk to you both in the next few days. After all, you two are the most direc
"Let's get out first!""Hey, wait..." Persephone pointed to the other side.In moments of life and death, it wasn't appropriate to laugh, but Morpheus still chuckled. The young Prince Christopher was sprawled on the floor in a very ridiculous pose, and they almost forgot about him!"Don't worry," Morpheus whispered. "I won't let anything happen to him."He had Persephone cling to his back and then carried Christopher.Christopher was a tall fellow, so it took some effort to carry them both to a safe place.Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars rushed in. Their sirens pierced the sky, startling a flock of birds.The fire was soon extinguished, and Persephone and Christopher received timely treatment. Luckily, their burns weren't too severe, and even more fortunately, their faces were unharmed.When Christopher woke up, he felt bandages wrapped around his head, and his skin had a burning sensation. His heart sank, and he was almost on the verge of tears."Tell me the truth! A
There was fire everywhere. Flames rushed toward Persephone like menacing dragons. Her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, but the searing pain coursing through her body became clearer. She struggled to get up, the agony almost unbearable.Despite several attempts, it was futile...Something was pinning her feet down, and stones kept falling on her. She couldn't even muster a shout.Many images flashed through her mind in that fleeting moment, each frame featuring Morpheus' face…She remembered the times they had spent together in Flinge, how he had initially distanced himself from her, then later had exerted every effort to protect her. She recalled how he would gently ruffle her hair and call her "silly goose"..."Morpheus, I'm afraid I might have to go first..."The fire grew fiercer, explosions resonated continuously, and she could no longer hold on.Christopher, who was nearby, wasn't any better.Amidst the roaring flames, he couldn't see anything clearly, only pulling
"No need, you can go back first." Morpheus glanced at him. "I'll wait here for her a little longer.""Prince Christopher wouldn't do anything to Ms. Hamerton...""Alfred, what are you thinking?" Morpheus couldn't help but chuckle. "I know exactly what Christopher is like, but I just want to wait here for Sephy. Christopher mentioned that she'd specifically designed these fireworks for me. Hah! I'm the useless one. I don't even dare to go inside and take a look.""Sir, don't say that.""If I wait here, will it count as accompanying her in her efforts?"Alfred nodded.Morpheus smiled and sent Alfred back. He continued waiting under the tree.The air in Southeast Aciatic was hot and humid. The shade of the banyan tree offered some relief, but it couldn't completely dispel the oppressive heat.Morpheus took a deep breath, about to move elsewhere, when he glimpsed a suspicious figure swiftly darting through the factory's side gate.The security at the side gate was lax, making it e
Christopher struggled to swallow the bite of the sandwich in his mouth for what seemed like ages. He gazed at Persephone, his mind wandering back…He didn't just know Morpheus. He had been close since childhood to the children of the two prominent military families in Southeast Aciatic.Compared to the Harrises, he preferred visiting the Ortons, especially when he got to spend time with Morpheus. He considered Morpheus a friend, a brother even, having engaged in countless mischief together, much to their parents' dismay.In his memory, Morpheus was someone who smiled a lot, radiating warmth and brightness like the Southeast Aciatic sun when he did.However, from the moment Kaiden betrayed the country, Morpheus never smiled again, gradually growing distant from Christopher as well.It wasn't until that evening at the gates of the palace that Christopher felt like it had been a lifetime."I... I don't know him." Christopher forced a smile. "Where would I have met your boyfriend!"
Morpheus wasn't just an ordinary person!Christopher wholeheartedly accepted his defeat to Morpheus."Then... I'd like to invite you to come over to my place for a while as a friend. That's fine, right?"-A few days later, Persephone finally ran into Christopher, who had been missing in action for days, in the classroom."Hey, you finally showed up!" She dashed over, plopping down in the seat beside him and handing him breakfast. "You haven't eaten, right? Let's eat together!"Usually, Christopher would readily accept, but he waved his hands now. "No, no, no!""What's wrong?" Persephone widened her eyes. "This breakfast isn't poisoned!"Christopher awkwardly smiled. "You have a boyfriend, so maybe... we should keep some distance."Persephone burst into laughter. Then she remarked, "Strange... Morpheus was right!""Uh, what?""My boyfriend!" She chuckled. "He made this breakfast. I asked if he could also make a portion for you, and he said sure, just worried you wouldn't tak