Lina hadn't had the chance to refuse before Desiree hung up.Renee winced. "Why is she like this? Doesn't she even ask if others want to go?"Lina smiled with a hint of helplessness. People with such personalities were usually self-centered, carefree, and straightforward, seemingly lacking a scheming mind.Could she be wrong about Desiree all along, just like Renee suggested? However, her past experiences told her that it was always good to be cautious and have a guarded approach toward people and things."Cuz, are we going?" Renee asked.Lina paused momentarily and smiled gently. "Have you finished all your work?""More or less.""Then let's go and relax!" She was also curious to see what Desiree had planned.-Not long after, Lina and Renee arrived at the agreed location—a small Ilbon-style bar. Interestingly, the owner was a local from Jangasas. The bar was situated in a quiet part of the city center, surrounded by many mimosa trees. In summer, the pink fluffy blossoms cr
"Wow, you're good! Your rank is so high?" "Of course!" Desiree proudly showed her equipment. "Look at these. Not only did they cost me a lot of pocket money, but also a lot of effort!""I have a lot of equipment too, but my level is not as high as yours!" Toph gave her a thumbs-up. "It seems like you've deployed your resources well. Very strategic!""Cough..." Renee's expression changed as she looked at Toph, chuckling lightly, "Playing games all day long… Be careful not to let it consume you!""Renee, you don't understand!" Desiree laughed, "This game is called God of War, and it's incredibly fun! You start as a small soldier and gradually rise to become a general, expanding your territory step by step. The game tests your patience, perseverance, strategic thinking, and more!"Heh! Maybe you won't quite understand anyway since most girls like you don't enjoy playing military games."Renee glanced at her. "Aren't you a girl?""Her?" Toph burst into laughter. "She's not. She's o
Desiree was at a loss for words. The two cups in front of her felt like two mocking clowns, representing her failure and frustration.Renee enjoyed the drama and discreetly gave Lina a thumbs-up while placing both hands on the table.Toph was engrossed in his game and shouted, "Hey, Desiree, weren't you online just now? Why is your profile icon black again?"Renee frowned and patted him, trying to get his attention.Toph had no idea what had just happened due to his focus on the game."The cups..." Renee pointed out.Suddenly, Toph realized that the cups were unevenly distributed. Desiree had two cups, while Lina and Zuko only had one."What's the big deal? Excuse me!" Toph raised his voice, "Bring us ten more cups!"Renee chuckled, enjoying Desiree's expression."Ask for more cups if there aren't enough!" Toph said seriously, "They're charging a service charge here, so what's the big deal about asking for a few more cups?"Desiree took a deep breath. When the dishes were ser
Lina glanced at Zuko with a hint of coquettishness in her eyes."I don't want to jump to conclusions or say anything unnecessary. After all, she's just your 'good buddy'!" Lina drawled teasingly, blinking like a cunning little fox.Amused by her playful banter, Zuko felt the urge to tease her further, but he also wanted to give her a taste of "violence". Thus, he playfully pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly.Upon sensing his mischievous intent, Lina pushed him away and looked at him teasingly.Meanwhile, Toph held Renee's hand and intentionally walked ahead, paying little attention to the couple behind them.Zuko grinned and whispered in Lina's ear, "If you don't like Desiree, I'll stop associating with her.""Don't do that!" Lina widened her eyes. "She's a guest from grandma's side and your childhood playmate with Toph. Suddenly distancing yourself from her doesn't seem appropriate, right?""Oh..." Zuko nodded. "Then I'll slowly keep my distance."Lina smiled and
Lina was surprised. "What?" "I saw you studying the materials seriously, so I didn't disturb you."Zuko gently stroked Lina's face. She already had a small face, and now she appeared even thinner. Distressed, he immediately called the hotel to order some food, specifically requesting tonic chicken soup.As he pondered his own situation...Despite having a fiancee, he couldn't even hold hands with her these days. A few days ago, he finally got a chance to go on a date with Lina, but she fell asleep as soon as she got in the car, showing no reservation.Amused and helpless, he didn't want to disturb her sleep, so he ended up driving around the streets, wanting to spend more time with her. This led him to feel a bit sorry for himself, prompting him to call the hotel again and order two servings of tonic chicken soup.Lina smiled and playfully pinched his face."When can you spare some time for me?" Zuko's gaze was filled with grievances.Softly, Lina replied, "The Thompson Group
Lina was supposed to meet Desiree at a high-end bar in Centrolis. To her surprise, all the attendees there were women. They exuded extraordinary temperament, dressed professionally, and behaved elegantly. They truly embodied the image of successful female entrepreneurs.As soon as Lina entered the private room, Desiree warmly waved at her. Although distracted, Lina discreetly hid the small pistol she carried in her bag.When she received Desiree's message, she hesitated for a moment but decided to come anyway.Firstly, she wanted to meet these bosses, learn more about their companies, and gain knowledge about entrepreneurs. Secondly, she harbored a glimmer of hope that Desiree would not deceive her.Despite that, she brought the small pistol that Krystal had given her when she was kidnapped. After all, a bar was a place where anything could happen, and she wanted to be prepared just in case Desiree had any ill intentions.Lina took a deep breath and sat down. She secretly sent a m
Lina heard everything they said, and it hit her hard. Their stares felt like knives cutting into her face. Instinctively, she glanced at Desiree, who appeared quite intoxicated, lazily leaning on the couch.Desiree was looking back at her, and they locked eyes.Lina saw a clear, gloating expression in Desiree's gaze. Now, she understood the intent behind Desiree's actions.Desiree had defamed her and suppressed her, using Nicholas' unsavory past as a gangster to keep influential people away from Lina. This way, she couldn't interact with those important connections anymore.If things went according to Desiree's plan, Lina would be humiliated and angry.Lina remained composed, trying not to lose her temper, but the others were crossing the line, especially under the influence of alcohol.Desiree also joined in, seemingly drunk, but Lina suspected she was fully aware of her actions.Lina chuckled, looking at Desiree. "It seems we won't be able to proceed with our collaboration. Ne
Desiree instantly came to a realization. Just as she was about to scream, she saw Lina pulling out a gun and pointing it at her temple."W-What are you doing?" Desiree stammered."This is the gift I got for you. Do you like it?" Lina scoffed. "Even though my dad has been involved in legitimate business for a long time now, it seems like it can't stop someone from being mean to him!""Lina, you—"Lina scoffed. "Since you said I'm the daughter of a gangster, I can't let that nickname cause me pain. Don't you think so?"Desiree widened her eyes, terrified.Lina smirked, gloating as she loaded the gun. The sound echoed loudly in the empty bathroom.Desiree screamed in fright. Her legs trembled, and she almost fell down."I-It was a misunderstanding!" She explained with a shaking voice. "We were all just drinking too much. Lina, I-I didn't mean to say that. I…”"Misunderstanding?" Lina moved her wrist to lift Desiree's chin with the gun. "You used my fiance's cup in front of me. Wa
"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