"I'll make each and every one of you suffer—to the point where death is preferable!" Zuko's words echoed in the air as he turned away, ignoring her completely.It took Gia a long time to regain her composure after Zuko's departure. The atmosphere still felt heavy, as if frozen in time.Zuko's presence had both shocked and unsettled her, stirring an unfamiliar feeling in her heart. Why did such an exceptional man only have eyes for Lina? Compared to the privileged heirs she encountered at school, Zuko exuded composure, wisdom, and dominance. He possessed both looks and a prestigious background. Thus, why did he choose Lina over everyone else? What did that wretched woman have that she didn't?Gia clenched her fists, her jealousy and hatred burning in her eyes as she struggled to make her way back to the hotel lobby. She spotted Heidi approaching from a distance, likely returning from attending to Violet at the hospital.The exhaustion evident in Heidi's demeanor ignited a flicker
Zuko couldn't tell her that he couldn't control himself. He gently held her small hand, caressing the back of it with his thumb, and looked into her eyes with a tender smile."I don't want to trouble you." He made up an excuse. "When we came back, we ran into Gia. She might spread rumors about us staying together."Lina's expression changed, and she nodded solemnly. What he said made sense. Gia's attitude toward her had already shifted, and Lina had to be cautious. If it became known that they were sharing a room without proper registration, it could lead to a big commotion and even involve the police, causing trouble.However...Lina looked at him, her worry shifting to his well-being. She was more concerned about him not having a place to stay.Zuko understood her thoughts. He gently ruffled her hair and whispered, "Don't worry. I was just joking about sleeping on the streets. I have enough money to stay at a hotel."Lina voiced her concern. "But those small hotels will surely
Heidi had long heard that Lina had gotten married, and to make matters worse, she had married a poor truck driver. Now, seeing him in person, he did indeed look quite shabby.Heidi sneered and immediately assumed an authoritative tone when she saw Lina in the room, raising her voice. "You two are sharing one room but using only one person's passport for registration. This is illegal in Southeast Aciatic!"Lina Jenner, you've caused me enough trouble on this trip! I won't tolerate you secretly harboring someone in your room this time!""Ms. Lister, it's not what you think!" Lina stepped forward, shielding Zuko behind her and gesturing for him to step back.Zuko was taken aback. He could sense the young woman's worry and slight fear as her shoulders trembled. Yet, he also saw her determination to protect him.It was a strange feeling, and a smile formed at the corners of his mouth."Ms. Lister, he is my husband," Lina argued reasonably. "He just arrived in Southeast Aciatic and doe
"Yes, that's correct," the general manager replied impatiently, giving Heidi a brief glance. "Our hotel policy prioritizes customers.""But the two of them—""I heard what this young lady just said," the lobby manager interjected. "They're a married couple!""Ah..." The general manager pretended to ponder, nodding earnestly. "In that case, it's an easy solution! Since they are legally married, it's only reasonable for them to stay together."Heidi stood frozen, completely stunned, while Gia, who stood behind her, wore a grimace."General manager, what you're saying isn't entirely accurate." Heidi attempted to salvage the situation. "Doesn't Southeast Aciatic's law stipulate—"The manager glanced at her. "Miss, do you understand Southeast Aciatic's laws better, or do I?""Well…""Using one person's ID for registration while accommodating two people may be inappropriate, but this situation doesn't apply to married couples. Spouses are considered one entity, so it doesn't matter w
Zuko gently squeezed her shoulder, signaling to her with a smile to remain silent. He then turned his gaze to the manager, maintaining a calm expression, and inquired, "I'm not quite clear on what you mean by 'a gesture of apology'?""Well..." the manager glanced at Heidi and raised his voice, "As one of the highest-rated hotels in Southeast Aciatic, we failed to properly vet our guests' backgrounds, allowing certain troublemakers to stay here. It's truly a neglect of our duty!""What did you say!?" Heidi immediately shouted, her voice rising, "Who are you referring to? Who!?"The manager crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave her an impatient look. The bodyguards swiftly reacted and grabbed hold of Heidi's arms, preparing to escort her out.The students widened their eyes, murmuring in surprise."I apologize, Ms. Lister," the manager interjected, crossing his hands and consulting the information on his iPad. A trace of contempt flickered in his eyes. "Upon investigation,
Gia held her breath, feeling an icy chill as Zuko's gaze bore into her.Zuko's smile vanished, replaced by a glint of ruthlessness in his eyes. "I've warned you," he said. "If anyone dares to harm my woman, I assure you they will suffer a fate far worse than death. Ms. Chapman, did you think I was joking?"Gia stammered, attempting to defend herself as the situation escalated. "M-Mr. Hamerton... I never had any ill intentions toward you or Lina. I have no idea how information about you staying in her room got leaked—"Zuko interrupted her, his voice turning cold. "Heh! Perhaps a certain b*tch couldn't keep its mouth shut and let out a few barks."Gia's eyes widened in shock.Zuko continued, his tone filled with menace. "Gia Chapman, Violet has been disfigured, and Heidi has been driven away. With a mere nod from me, this deceitful teacher might become one of the missing persons in Southeast Aciatic by tomorrow... By the way, what do you think these two have in common?"Gia's lips
"Toph, there's no need to go through all this trouble again." Renee spoke, her voice filled with sincerity. She looked into Toph's eyes and confessed, "I am not Pamela."Toph's hands trembled, almost causing the instant noodles to spill. Despite mentally preparing himself, hearing the admission directly from Renee still came as a shock.Renee extended her hand and continued. "Let's get to know each other again. My name is Renee Thompson. Thompson..."She paused, biting her lip before continuing, "As in Melvin Thompson's Thompson."A moment of silence hung in the air before Toph murmured, "So you're indeed Melvin's daughter."Renee questioned, "Indeed?"Toph looked up, explaining, "We always felt that you resemble him, so we made an educated guess, and it turned out to be correct."Renee lowered her head, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I hope I never resemble him."Taking a deep breath, Toph asked, his voice tinged with concern, "Why did you both conspire to deceive Uncle Nicho
"What?" Fred's eyes sparkled with excitement as he expressed his surprise.Zuko leaned forward, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. "I said I'll help you rise to power! But there is one condition you must agree to."Fred furrowed his brows slightly, intrigued by Zuko's proposition.Despite the age difference, the young man standing before Fred exuded a certain aura that surpassed his own.Fred was well aware of Zuko's background as a Hamerton, and since arriving in Southeast Aciatic, he had learned about the intricate connections between the Hamertons and the royal family in the region. Zuko had been bestowed with a noble title from a young age.As a pragmatic person, Fred realized he had no other viable options but to cooperate with the young Count. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I will follow your lead, Mr. Hamerton!""Very well." Zuko poured coffee into a cup with a relaxed and elegant demeanor. He savored the taste and chuckled softly. "The flavor is quite go