Zuko smiled as he held Lina's hands, knowing she would face this day alone. He couldn't replace her, but he could be there for her."This is your home, Lina," he said, playing with her hair. "Your parents will be home soon. It's a new beginning for you." Lina said, her voice filled with worry, "But I—""I know," Zuko interrupted gently, looking into her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll bring your parents from Jangasas when I'm done here."Lina's eyes filled with gratitude. He was the only one who would go to such lengths for her.Still worried, she lowered her head and hesitated. "But what if they won't come?""You're their daughter, no matter what," Zuko reassured her, his gaze gentle. "Lina, I promised that you won't be separated from your family."Nodding slowly, Lina let go of his hand.Zuko then turned his attention to Renee and smiled. "I have something to do tonight. Please take care of Lina for me.""Sure, I got it!" Renee replied, her voice filled with determination.Zuko w
Two days later, the authorities apprehended Melvin immediately after receiving the report. Unfortunately, the past two days had been filled with misery for everyone involved.The police discovered the Thompsons' nearly wrecked car near the beach, and the driver was gravely injured, ultimately succumbing to his injuries on the way to the hospital.Nicholas had diligently checked the surveillance footage in various locations but could not locate Lina and Renee. Even the person responsible for taking them had vanished, leaving all fingers pointing at Melvin.Through their connections, Zuko and Toph managed to gain access to the interrogation room where Melvin was held.Upon seeing them, Melvin displayed a cunning grin, and a wicked gleam shone in his triangular eyes.Toph couldn't contain his anger and clenched his fist, ready to strike. However, Melvin remained motionless, coldly observing them before bursting into hysterical laughter.Toph's punch abruptly halted just as it was
"Go ahead... hit me!" Melvin spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice mumbled. "Ha... It's futile even if you kill me! If you do... I'll take the two of them with me to hell!"Toph yelled, and the brothers shoved Melvin against the wall. Zuko's pale joints and trembling hands tightened around Melvin's neck. The inability to kill his enemy was tormenting him.Just then, the interrogation room door swung open, allowing light to flood in. Several officers entered, urging them to stop.Someone stood behind them.Slowly, he walked forward, each step landing heavily on the ground. His presence weighed heavily on him.Zuko released his grip on Melvin and turned to face the newcomer."Uncle Nicholas..."Sorrow flickered across Nicholas' exhausted face, his sideburns now peppered with silver hair strands. Zuko remembered how Nicholas' hair had turned white overnight when he received the devastating news about Pammy 20 years ago. Although he gradually recovered, he was no longer the same m
Lina and Renee leaned against each other, their panic evident.Lina reached into her pocket and realized her phone was missing, confirming their suspicions. With a signal in her eyes, she conveyed the message to Renee.Meanwhile, Renee racked her brain, recalling the incident of drinking juice from the maid before arriving."Cuz, it was the juice!" Renee exclaimed, and Lina was taken aback, still feeling the numbness on the tip of her tongue.Renee grabbed Lina's arm, trying to appear calm despite their distress. "Cuz... What should we do now?"Lina took a deep breath, but the air in the confined space was nauseating. She gathered herself, attempting to calm down.Renee pointed toward a small window nearby. Lina crouched down to look and saw the vast ocean covered in mist, making it impossible to determine their direction.They had no means of communication to contact the outside world. Meanwhile, the gazes of the other girls around them turned gradually hostile."Hey, are you
Lina struggled to get up, her body aching. She crawled toward Renee, exerting all her effort. They tightly held each other's hands, seeking comfort and support.The men who entered the room wore stoic expressions, but their eyes burned with intensity. As the sound of heels echoed, they positioned themselves on either side, creating a path through the narrow space."What do you think you're doing? Have you lost your minds!?" A woman's voice pierced the air, resonating like a loud bell. The girls remained motionless as she unleashed her anger.The entire cabin seemed to be engulfed in a suffocating atmosphere, overwhelmed by the weight of the woman's presence.Arms crossed, she demanded in a cold tone, "Who started this? Show yourselves!"No one uttered a word, but all eyes shifted toward the girl who had instigated the commotion."Hah, I knew it, even if no one confesses." The woman walked slowly, assuming a condescending posture before the girl. "You again, Rose?"Rose's earlier
Krystal was taken aback, holding the half-burnt cigarette between her fingers as the smoke rings slowly dissipated. She carefully scrutinized Lina from head to toe, noting the girl's disheveled appearance yet sensing a fearless aura emanating from her being. Like gleaming silver stars, Lina's eyes shone with resolute determination, reminiscent of someone familiar to Krystal.Lost in her thoughts, Krystal failed to realize that her cigarette had burned down, only snapping back to reality when it scorched her hand, causing her to gasp. She quickly regained composure, adjusting her breathing and wearing the same confident smile."Young lady, don't you think you have too many questions?" she asked."Even if it means my death, I want to die with clarity," Lina softly replied."Heh, nobody's asking you to die. You two are precious to me," Krystal replied."Valuable enough to sell?" Renee stepped forward, instinctively positioning herself in front of Lina. "We're well aware of the busine
"Do I need a reason to come to you, Madame Krys?" The man's hoarse voice echoed, each word feeling as blunt as a dull knife. "Heh, I heard you have precious gems here, and I wanted to take a look!"Lina couldn't be certain, but she felt as though Krystal was deliberately blocking the man's view. Was she trying to protect them? It was hard to say for sure.There was something cunning about this woman. If Lina had to say it, it seemed like Krystal was more interested in safeguarding her own interests rather than protecting them.Krystal spoke, crossing one hand over her chest and propping the other up. The cigarette between her fingers burned slowly, exuding a sensual charm. "Justin, we may share this boat, you trafficking drugs and me transporting people, but we should mind our own business. Why bother seeking treasures from me?""It's precisely because we share the same boat and have this chance encounter that whoever gets the gems should share them!" Justin patted her shoulder, a
Justin had heard about Krystal's ruthlessness, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice her own forces to eliminate her enemies completely. She could even drag others down with her when necessary.Nobody dared to provoke Madame Krys in the underworld, as everyone wanted to prolong their lives in this line of work.As Justin slowly released his grip on Lina, his eyes remained fixed on Krystal, a cold smirk forming on his face.Krystal's heart raced irregularly, realizing that offending Justin would have dire consequences for her future. Although he wouldn't openly confront her, she knew he was capable of causing trouble behind the scenes.However, in this situation, she had to confront him, not for Lina's sake, but for her own redemption.As Justin approached her, his laughter grew louder, and he casually patted her shoulder. "We're all from the streets, Madame Krys. No need to get angry! I don't want this girl anymore!"Krystal smiled back, her bright red lips accentuating her
"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