Chapter 1149

Just then, Zuko's phone rang. The slight startle caused him to lighten his kick as he saw the name on the screen he had been the most worried about seeing these past few days—Melissa.

Taking a deep breath, Zuko walked outside the room to answer the call. He greeted Melissa in a relaxed tone, "Ma'am."

Melissa unconsciously called out "Zeke" but quickly corrected herself, becoming cautious and reserved. "Mr... Mr. Hamerton, hello."

"Ma'am, no need to be formal with me. Just call me Zeke. Why didn't you inform me when you left Centrolis a few days ago?"

"Oh…" Melissa forced a smile and said, "We didn't want to bother you. We can still manage... Well... Lina… Is she doing well?"

She hesitated before finally asking the question.

…

In fact, for the past two days, she had been agonizing over this phone call. The moment she learned that Lina was the only daughter of the Thompsons, a true heiress, she knew that she should gracefully step back.

However, after raising her for so many year