Gia clenched her fists, a confident smile appearing on her face. Thoughts filled her head after realizing that Ms. Rene had a brother.Renee came from a big family business, and if Gia could be with the son of that family, Zuko would mean nothing to her.Taking a deep breath, Gia had a strong desire to compete with Lina in everything, even when it came to men. She wanted to surpass and step on her. Smirking with satisfaction, she picked up her book and hurriedly left the classroom.…In Further Mathematics class, which was known to be challenging, even for many boys, Renee found enjoyment. She understood the subject before the lecturer even explained it, effortlessly grasping concepts like calculus.However, her understanding only remained on paper, as she struggled to answer questions when called upon. Her panicked state brought tears to her eyes, entertaining her classmates, much to the lecturer's annoyance.After class, Renee secretly tore up her draft, sensing that something
"That's right! You're so smart, brother!" Toph's eyes lit up, and he almost threw himself at Zuko, wanting to give him a hug.However, Zuko looked at him with a frown and lifted his hand to block him with a look of disgust on his face."What!" The second grandson of the Hamertons felt wronged. "We always hugged when we were young. Did you forget that?""What nonsense are you talking about!?" Zuko glared at him. "Stay away from me!""I don't wanna!" Toph grinned and kept trying to shove himself toward his brother.It was inevitable that the brothers would end up in a fight, which made Renee laugh. Only then did Zuko realize it.This bastard did it to his brother just to make his girlfriend happy! Did he put on an act for her?"Okay, stop it!" Zuko asserted his authority as the elder brother. "The most important thing now is to run the test at the hospital! There's a hospital in Jangasas that I'm familiar with. We know each other, so it's convenient."Toph and Renee looked at eac
Zuko scratched his nose, hesitating, before taking Lina's hand and heading to the store. The emotions he was experiencing at the moment were beyond words. It felt as if all the spices had been spilled and mixed together, something he thought only happened in literature.Zuko had always believed that he was a person capable of controlling his emotions. However, at that very moment, he was overjoyed yet overwhelmed by an indescribable sadness and pain.As they walked, memories flooded Zuko's mind. He recalled holding Pammy's hand when they were young, guiding her as she took her first steps. They had lost each other for 20 years, and he never imagined that she would come back to him in this way.These thoughts echoed in his head as he recalled others' comments about Lina."Bro, I realized that Lina looks like Aunt Linda from certain angles!""Look at them, they've just met, but they act like sisters!""Zeke, I'm telling you, Jesse and Melissa raised an outstanding daughter like Lin
Zuko felt his throat tighten, and he licked his dry lips. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke up."I... I have a question I'd like to ask you," he said, his voice faltering."Mm-hmm, go ahead and ask," Lina replied."Lina, are you... happy in this home?" Zuko asked, his expression filled with uncertainty.Lina was taken aback. She sensed that something was off about Zuko today, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. His eyes seemed more mysterious, and he sometimes appeared hesitant to meet her gaze.Could it be that there were more secrets to his identity?"What do you mean by that, Zuko?" she inquired, her tone cautious.Zuko gently held her shoulders and pleaded, "Please answer my question honestly.""Why would you need to ask that? Of course I'm happy!" Lina replied, her eyes searching his face for any signs of concern."But how would you feel if you had to leave them one day?" Zuko pressed on, his gaze intense.Lina's eyes widened with alertness. "What are
Zuko reminisced about Lina's fearlessness in the face of Violet's bullying and her resilience when betrayed by Gia. He attributed her courage and determination to her family's unwavering support.With the backing of their parents, the children could soar like eagles in the sky, unafraid and uninhibited.Zuko gently caressed Lina's face with his thumb, smiling warmly."Hey, were you testing me with all those words?" he asked."What? No!" She pouted. "Hmph, I thought you were trying to convince me to move to Centrolis and never return to Jangasas after marrying you!"Zuko forced a smile. "Why would I do that..."Lina looked at him seriously. "Zuko, I'm setting this rule with you! After I marry you, you can't stop me from going home!""Of course," he reassured her, holding her hand. "You won't have to go back and forth... By then, let's move your parents to Centrolis. If Dave works hard, he can get into the University of Centrolis. I promise that you and your family will be togethe
"B-Because..." Jesse stuttered, struggling to find the words.The truth would be revealed once they discovered Lina's blood type.Lina was not their biological daughter.A deep voice suddenly interjected, breaking the tense silence. Jesse lifted his head and saw Zuko's dark eyes, causing his heart to tighten."Lina, that's medical knowledge," Zuko said, his voice tinged with amusement. "There's a higher risk of graft-versus-host disease in blood transfusions between immediate family members."So not only can't you donate blood to your mother, but you can't do the same for Dave either."Panic gripped Lina. "What do we do then?"Zuko offered reassurance. "We can use mine," he said, giving her a comforting look. "I have Type B blood as well.""He's right," the nurse confirmed. "Please come with me for a blood test. If it's a match, we can proceed with the transfusion immediately.""Okay," Lina agreed.Jesse was taken aback. "Zeke, how can we do that to you? Let me do it. My bloo
Mary let out a scream, collapsing against the wall. Startled, Zuko wanted to go and help her, but she kept avoiding him, trembling in fear."I-I'm sorry!" she stuttered, apologizing, "I didn't mean to! I promise I won't say it again, never again!"Zuko furrowed his brows, sensing that Mary knew something more. He slowly crouched down, his gaze turning icy, and spoke each word deliberately. "Mrs. Nash, are you hiding something from me?""Huh?""Did you and my mother-in-law have another argument about Lina's birth?" Zuko asked, his intuition guiding him.Mary's face turned pale as she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.Zuko continued, his eyes narrowing. "If I'm not mistaken, you met my mother-in-law and mocked the fact that Lina was adopted, which led to the fight between you two."After a moment, Mary timidly nodded.Zuko's expression grew stern. "Why did you say that?""Z-Zeke..." Mary instantly gave in. "I had a selfish motive. I wanted to introduce my daughter to yo
Zuko coughed twice and said through gritted teeth, "You talk too much."Toph smiled and asked, "Zuko, are you worried that Pammy won't be able to accept this reality? After all, her new family is treating her well."Zuko paused for a moment and reluctantly admitted, "I do have that concern."I'm also worried that if Lina doesn't want to return to the Thompsons, it'll be a significant blow to Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Linda.""Yeah, that's true." Toph nodded. "So we need to take this slow."…Meanwhile, Melvin paced back and forth in the villa. He noticed a trinket on the windowsill that displeased him and angrily threw it against the wall."That b*tch!"The housekeepers and servants stood still, afraid to approach him, unsure of whom he was referring to.Melvin panted heavily.He couldn't blame anyone else for this matter. He had underestimated his own daughter!He didn't expect Renee to be just like her mother—appearing harmless on the surface but more scheming than anyone el
"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