"Still want to argue?" Zuko didn't even get a chance to speak before his father's stern shout interrupted him.Toph, wearing a smile on his face, straightened up, no longer resembling a punished elementary school student. He looked like someone who had redeemed himself.Then the real show began, with their parents taking turns harshly criticizing Zuko.Cordelia scolded, "You should have spoken up about this long ago!"Zephyr added, "Yes, why didn't you say anything!?"Cordelia continued. "This is such a big matter, and you didn't come back to discuss it with us? We could have come up with a plan!"Zephyr agreed. "Exactly! You caught us off guard!"Cordelia hissed. "You've become so arrogant, hiding everything!"Zephyr chimed in. "That's right! Since your wings are so strong, we'll break them for you!"Zuko remained silent.Toph had been suppressing his laughter, his face turning red. However, he quickly met his older brother's murderous gaze when he turned his face."Y-You!
On this rainy day, a rare moment of coolness, Zuko and Lina found themselves huddled in their room, engaging in various activities like painting, reading, and playing chess, thoroughly enjoying each other's company."Zuko, my parents mentioned that they're planning to go back soon," Lina shared."What?" Zuko exclaimed, taken aback. "Why so suddenly?""It's not sudden!" Lina smiled mischievously, making a strategic move with a black chess piece. "Looks like I'm going to win!"Zuko chuckled and surrendered, playing along."What I mean is, why can't they stay a few more days? There are still so many places in Centrolis they haven't visited yet.""Well... maybe they feel they've already stayed long enough, and they still have the supermarket to take care of," Zuko replied, his gaze dimming slightly. His expression became somewhat complex. He set the chessboard aside and led Lina to the bookshelf, retrieving a photo album.Curiosity sparked within Lina.In a gentle voice, Zuko said,
Lina's ears buzzed, doubting if she had misheard. Her gaze was fixed on Zuko, lips moving but unable to utter a sound."Lina..." Zuko felt helpless witnessing her distressed reaction. He didn't know how to comfort her, hold her, or explain everything."You... you're joking, right?" Lina's lips twitched. "Zuko, don't make things up...""It's true." Zuko locked eyes with her. "You're not Lina Jenner. You're Pamela Thompson.""How is that possible!?""If you don't believe me, look further back."Zuko turned the album to later pages.The deeper they delved, the clearer the image of the little girl became.At her one-month celebration, innocence adorned her like a newborn.At her one-year-old celebration, she laughed joyously, captivated by someone's antics.At two years old, she sat up, clapping her tiny hands, gazing in a particular direction.At three years old...Lina's heart pounded violently!Zuko slowly opened a drawer, retrieved the photo Melissa had given Cordelia, and
"I know it's hard to accept, but I'll be by your side no matter what," Zuko reassured Lina."No... No!" Lina kept backing away, her mind blank, with only one thought emerging: 'My... Where are my parents? I want to find them!'"Lina!" Zuko hurriedly followed her as she ran out of the room. He chased after her without hesitation, catching up to her as she approached the guest room where Jesse and Melissa were staying.However, when Lina knocked on the door, gasping for breath, she was greeted by the sight of the maid cleaning inside. She stood at the door with wide eyes, looking at the empty room, her heart sinking.Several servants recognized her as the future young mistress and hurriedly gathered around, bowing respectfully.In a daze, Lina stood there momentarily before dialing Melissa's phone. However, no matter how many times she called, all she heard was the cold machine voice message saying, "The user cannot be reached..."Lina slowly fell to her knees, unable to shed tears
Toph paused briefly but then smiled and said, "I'll listen to you!"Not only did he let her choose the breakfast location, but also what to eat.Renee ordered croissants and coffee, specifically requesting smoked salmon. She remembered the time when Toph had five portions of smoked salmon for breakfast at the Thompsons, and she had secretly kept that in mind.Toph was somewhat surprised but smiled happily. When the smoked salmon was served, he enjoyed it greatly."This... definitely doesn't taste as good as the one at home," Renee said softly.With his mouth full, Toph mumbled, "Mm, it's delicious!"Renee looked at him, unsure where to place her hands. Despite knowing each other for a long time and gradually clarifying their relationship, a girl would always feel uneasy and afraid of embarrassing herself in front of someone she liked.Toph also placed some salmon on her plate and split the croissant. "Don't just look at me. You should eat too!"Renee pursed her lips and smiled
Toph turned his head and forced a smile at Renee."It's not serious, well... In order to investigate Melvin, my dad conveniently looked into the companies under his name! I've obtained the data now, and I must analyze it immediately," Toph explained.Renee leaned closer, curiosity evident on her face.While the companies were under Melvin's name, they were just a distraction."The real company..." Renee bit her lip and whispered, "Toph, you won't find much by checking these. Melvin is actually cunning. He has a company called Mel Construction, which is how he makes money.""Mel Construction?" Toph repeated, processing the new information."Mm-hmm! Since Melvin used me as a replacement for Pammy, I had to be around him often. I started observing his actions closely and discovered the existence of Mel Construction, a shell corporation!"Renee continued, her voice calm. "It's actually a fraudulent company. I overheard him making calls and instructing his men to lure more people int
Cordelia was taken aback, looking at Linda silently. "Hmm... Is there something unusual about her?"Linda pondered for a moment. "She's not close to me, or rather, she's overly polite toward me and Nic. Initially, I thought she was just having difficulty adjusting to our home. But later, I saw her chatting and laughing with Toph when she arrived home, and she instantly became guarded when she saw us... I don't understand this child."Linda let out a sigh. Lately, she had been troubled by this situation. "Cordelia, I've tried many approaches, even humbling myself to please her... But why does she keep her distance? She's my daughter! I didn't abandon her willingly. If I could turn back time, I would trade my life for her safety...""Calm down, Linda." Cordelia quickly grasped her hands.Linda's hands were cold and trembling. She couldn't control her emotions when discussing this.Cordelia recalled the moment Linda collapsed when Pammy went missing.As a mother, she understood the
"I'm worried about you handling it." Zephyr shook his head.When it came to strategy and strength, his second son couldn't compare to his first son in maintaining calmness during unexpected events.However, Toph had his own strengths—he was bright, friendly, and kind, and his laughter would always precede his arrival.Moreover, not only could he eat and sleep soundly, but he also took good care of his family, ensuring they could do the same.His positive attributes were not suitable for frontline operations, but he was perfect for logistical support."Melvin's criminal evidence is undeniable now," Zephyr said in his deep voice. "Zuko, sort these out by tonight. Tomorrow, come with me to report to the authorities.""Okay, got it.""Toph, stay at home like a good boy. Take care of your mother and Renee... Oh, and also look after Nic and Linda.""Sure, I got it!" Toph signaled his understanding with an "okay" gesture.However, a loud thud suddenly resounded from the study's door!