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
Desiree was in a mess, retreating with her hands supporting her body on the ground. She was unable to stop shaking and cried at the top of her lungs.In stark contrast, the janitor remained surprisingly calm, silencing Desiree with a cloth."You're annoying," the janitor stated."Mmph!" Desiree struggled in panic."Don't tell anyone about the gun, get it?" the janitor threatened.Desiree widened her eyes.Even Lina was stunned.The janitor had chased after Desiree to prevent anyone from finding out that Lina had a gun. After all, the Thompsons were now involved in legitimate business, and their reputation could be damaged if this information got out.However, Lina couldn't recall having any contact with this person, no matter how hard she thought.Why would she help her?Fearful and unable to do anything else, Desiree could only nod and cry.After removing the cloth, the janitor let Desiree go. The latter hastily crawled and ran away.Lina's heart raced as she stood outside
Desiree ran in panic, losing the strength to even drive. After a few attempts, she finally dialed the right number to get her driver to pick her up.By the time Desiree arrived home, she was drenched in sweat and as pale as a piece of paper, panting heavily. Though the room was just a short distance away, she had to hold onto the wall for support.The house she stayed in was bought by her family years ago in Centrolis. It was a large and quiet suburban property, far from public view. However, Desiree still found it was lacking.After catching her breath, she frantically closed all the curtains in the house, feeling terrified by the earlier events.Not only did she feel jealousy for Lina now, but resentment as well.The maid approached her quietly and said, "Miss, the person you want to meet is already in the guest room.""What?" Desiree calmed down. "She's here?""Yes, she arrived from Jangasas this afternoon. Since you weren't home, I took her to the guest room," the maid repli
Lina and Renee fell silent at the same time. The name Madame Krys had brought them back to the time on the ship. They had thought they had forgotten about it, but the narrow cabin, the wounded girls, and the ferocious eyes were playing in their heads like a movie. It was a traumatic experience, as well as an unforgettable memory."Maybe," Lina said softly. "Maybe she's really related to Madame Krys. Even though she saved our lives, she broke the law. We can't tell whether this Lena is a friend or a foe just yet, so we must be cautious."Renee nodded. "Cuz, if you really want to find out, why don't you go there a couple more times?"Toph quickly interjected. "It's a dangerous place. Better to stay away!"Renee looked at him and smiled but said nothing more.The group parted ways and went home after chatting for a while.-Desiree had been quiet these days. She used to hit Zuko up daily, but she now dared not even text him.When Toph was playing games, he would notice that her av