Under the cover of the night, Chris stealthily climbed to a nearby building and set up his sniper gun. He communicated with his comrades through an earpiece.The authorities had also dispatched two snipers to assist him."Zuko, I have a clear view of Grandma Janine from my position. She's safe for now, with her head wound bandaged. Albert is by her side, armed with a gun and dagger. Desiree is standing nearby.""Can we open fire now?" Zuko inquired."Not yet," Chris replied. "Albert is on high alert. We need to distract him. I can take the shot once he's three steps away from Grandma Janine."Meanwhile, Lina checked the time and realized over an hour had passed. Earlier, she had arranged for the food to be removed from the room as a solution for Janine's safety.Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door."Who is it!?" Albert's voice came from inside."Mr. Harper, it's time for Grandma Janine to take her medicine," Lina replied."Medicine? This old lady seems perfectly fine
The Hamertons sent a box of cash in pounds.Lina had an idea to pretend to be an attendant, deliver food, and confront Albert, but Zuko rejected it.Suddenly, a deep voice interrupted them. "You don't have to do it. I will.""Lena? You—""I was too slow to save Madam Baker in the banquet hall." Lena looked at Lina and lowered her cap. "Don't worry. I'll be smarter this time.""No!" Lina grabbed her. "I can't let you take the risk. I brought you to the event. I must ensure you're safe!"However, Lena pushed her into Zuko's embrace and left, saying, "Take care of her.""Lena!"Lena went downstairs without looking back. Lina panicked, but Zuko calmed her down. "Perhaps Lena has her own plan.""That's not acceptable!" Lina retorted."Lina, she can handle herself well. Also, Albert hasn't met her, making her the best candidate to be the attendant in disguise," Zuko explained."But—"Zuko reassured her. "Don't worry. She's smart. She knows what to do and what not to do. If she th
Albert's impatient voice echoed from the room. "You can't even pick up a cereal bowl, you damned girl! Get in now!""The case is heavy, dad!" Desiree complained.Desiree struggled to hold onto the case, but it relentlessly pressed on her arms.Meanwhile, Lena chuckled. Her petite figure remained hidden behind the case, and she wore a cap obscuring half of her face.Clad in the hotel's uniform, Desiree wouldn't have recognized her, especially in her panicked state.Lena firmly pressed down on the case.Overwhelmed by the weight of both the case and the person, Desiree couldn't bear the load. "Come here, dad! I—"Before Desiree could finish her sentence, Lena heard Albert's hurried footsteps approaching. She realized that her opportunity had come.She exerted force and pushed the case forcefully, catching Desiree off guard. Desiree stumbled and was pushed right into Albert, who was approaching."Ahh!"Albert leaped back, reacting quickly to the unexpected collision.Taking adv
Lina gave Toph a thumbs up.Zuko smiled and spoke. "This man was prepping in the kitchen the whole day yesterday. He marinated for three to four hours alone, scaring our chefs!""Why?" Lina asked."They thought the Hamertons no longer needed chefs, that we were firing them," Zuko replied.Lina laughed out loud.Renee played the role of the waiter, serving drinks and condiments to everyone. She was happy to keep busy."Cuz, this is Toph's secret recipe! We must try it!" Renee exclaimed."Yes, you must!" Zuko said. "This dude stayed in the kitchen yesterday, forbidding me from looking!""Why would I let you steal it?" Toph, wearing a loose T-shirt, said while fanning himself. "I came up with this secret recipe after many rounds of tests and trials. You'd need to pay to learn!"Zuko raised his eyebrows. "How much?"Toph showed seven fingers. "Since we're brothers, I'll charge you 70 dollars!""Isn't that dad's allowance?""Hahaha!""You're lucky that dad isn't here! Otherwise
"Let me explain." Chris chuckled. "My real name is Crius. I realized it sounded too feminine when I joined my unit, so I changed it to Chris!""That's right. He's the only one in the family who dared to change his name," Zuko said, chuckling. "Our great-grandfather named us, and Chris just went ahead and changed it!"Chris shrugged. "A name is just an insignia. As long as people remember it, it should be fine. Am I right, Ms. Harding?"He looked at Lena, who had been quiet all this while.Meanwhile, Lena's mind seemed to be elsewhere. After a moment, she glanced at him blankly and asked, "Did you call me?"Chris faked a chuckle. "Who else would it be? You're the only one with the last name Harding here.""Oh," she replied flatly. "I'm not used to people calling me that.""Well...""Didn't you say that a name is just an insignia?" Lena's expression remained unchanged. "Lena is my insignia."She lifted her head to look at him, revealing her beautiful face under the cap.She app
Chris was taken aback, standing blankly with two chicken wings on skewers in front of the barbecue grill. His attention, however, was fixated on Lena's face.Coming from a prestigious family, he lived like a prince, possessing an outstanding physique and intelligence. He earned numerous merits in the special forces, gaining fame along the way.He couldn't believe that a girl had rendered him speechless. Yet, there was something indescribably intriguing about this feeling. Secretly, he hoped Lena would respond again.Suddenly, Toph's hard slap on his back brought him back to reality."Bro, bro! Fire! Fire!" Toph shouted.Chris was startled as he saw the burnt chicken wings and sizzling sparks."Man, special forces soldiers like you go through tough training in the wilderness, and now you feel close to burnt stuff?" Toph teased.Chris was at a loss for words, looking at Lena's expressionless face as she walked away.He asked Toph cautiously, "Who exactly is she?""I don't know m
Zephyr was stunned by the powerful and unique calligraphy skill on display. The style was elegant and defined, with calming colors used effectively.Henry had also designed and made several porcelain bottles himself, showcasing his artistic talents further.As Zephyr observed the various carved artworks, he came to a realization. "So, Toph takes after his grandfather! Besides handling cunning business ethics, he can do everything!"Cordelia was also surprised, recalling a funny image of Henry caught between his two wives at a banquet."Um... He's better than his grandfather." She chuckled. "At least he won't marry two scary wives."They both laughed at the passage of time. "The kids have grown up so fast, and now we're old," Cordelia remarked.A warm and familiar hand rested on her shoulders, and she leaned into the comforting embrace, feeling as though a lifetime had passed."Do you remember what we said before?" Zephyr asked, his eyes filled with allure.Cordelia recalled the
"Lenny, why don't you stay tonight?" Lina gently held Lena's hand and suggested, "Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to my parents in Jangasas. They are wonderful people. My younger brother is studying at the University of Centrolis, and he's quite a handsome young man."Lina added, "Lenny, let's head upstairs first. You can choose which room you like." She was talkative in her happy state.Lena followed behind, not fully absorbing her words.As they ascended the stairs, Lena stole a glance at Nicholas and offered a soft smile. She couldn't help but envy her sister's family. Lina had loving biological parents, caring adoptive parents who raised her for 20 years, and a fiance who cherished her dearly.Such blessings were rare, and Lena appreciated them deeply.Despite this, Lena felt no trace of jealousy.On the contrary, she was determined to protect this happiness at all costs. Having endured many hardships herself, she cherished all the beauty life had to offer. She couldn't bear to