"Uh, well..." Arya felt sweat forming on her forehead, thinking she had caused trouble. "Why don't all of you visit my studio once Pammy's pregnancy stabilizes?"The awkward atmosphere didn't dissipate. Arya flushed in embarrassment. Besides comics and games, she really did not know much else.Lina sensed her discomfort and smiled. "Arya, I suddenly have a craving for milk tea. Could you help me get a cup?"It felt like amnesty was granted to Arya as she glanced at Lina gratefully, then hurriedly rushed out of the room.Toph lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.Renee knew she was in the wrong but did not say anything and hastily walked out of the room."Renee!" Toph was taken aback. Even when he called her, there was no response. He quickly followed after her.Zuko did not manage to stop him in time.Lina tugged at his hand, both of them helpless."Forget it. Let them handle it themselves." Zuko sighed lightly. "Toph needs to grow up too.""Honey...""I know.
Toph chased Renee to the entrance of the hospital.Renee walked with the grace of the wind, ignoring him like he didn't exist. He could have easily caught up with her in a few steps, but every time he tried, she pushed him away.The current Renee treated Toph as a stranger. His heart grew colder bit by bit.He stopped in his tracks, calling out with a hint of grievance, "Renee! What's gotten into you?"Renee also stopped but did not turn around.Toph had seen this back view countless times—petite and delicate—making him feel a strong urge to protect her. Today, this back view was oddly indifferent. There were only a few steps between them, yet it felt like a vast chasm he could not bridge."Renee, you—"Renee turned slightly. "Do you have something else to say?" Toph circled around to stand before her, his gaze anxious. "Do you have to misunderstand me like this? I... I already sent you messages. I told you I wanted to draw comics and showed Ari my work. Why are you upset agai
Renee looked at Toph and snorted. Of course, she knew exactly what she was saying.After losing her mother, she did a lot of thinking. The more she thought, the more she realized how foolish she used to be. She had been so foolish, giving away things she could have easily held onto. She had been naive, letting others use her as a stepping stone without even realizing it.If her mother hadn't insisted that she stop impersonating Pamela, how would the real Pamela have returned to the Thompsons? How could she ever have a chance to reconnect with Zuko?Her mother had been incredibly kind to them, but they had shown no gratitude!And then there was Melvin. Despite her strong dislike for him, on the day of his execution, she felt like her heart was burdened with a heavy stone.After that fateful day, she had no parents left. She became a true orphan. In this world, she could only rely on others, be pitied by others, and ultimately be considered expendable.Renee suppressed the tears th
Chris was different from the other Hamerton heirs. He did not live at Hamerton Manor but instead bought a small villa not far from the city center. The place was not huge, but he had kept it neat, clearly a trait gained from military training.More importantly, this place was very close to Lena's apartment, just a ten-minute walk away.Zuko chuckled softly."Why are you laughing?" Chris brought fruits and ground a cup of coffee for him. "You come in with that weird smile, and it's kind of scary coupled with your stern face!"Zuko patted his shoulder and gave him a look that said, "As a fellow man, I know what you're thinking.""I'm just thinking you don't usually stay here, do you?""Hmm?""Lena's apartment isn't far from here!""It's not far," Chris answered honestly. "I do go to her place sometimes for a meal or something, but... I don't feel like going lately.""Are you two fighting?"Chris glanced at him and shook his head."Then why?""Lena's been researching diets for
"Zuko, what's gotten into you?" Chris asked.Zuko snapped back to reality and smiled. Whether he was overthinking or not, certain things felt quite odd once they were connected in his mind."Um... nothing," Zuko replied casually. "I'm just a bit hungry. Is there anything to eat at your place?"Chris was also hungry too and absentmindedly answered while scrolling on his phone, "Let's order takeout."Zuko frowned. "I never eat takeout.""Mr. Zuko Hamerton, are you asking me to cook for you?""You know how to cook, right?"Chris glared at him. Not that he would cook for him even if he did!Just then, the doorbell rang suddenly.Lena walked in with a smile, carrying a lunchbox. When she saw Zuko there, she nodded slightly with a hint of restraint.Zuko smiled. "Lena, are you telepathically connected to Chris and know he's hungry? So you came to bring us food?""Mm."Lena set the lunchbox on the table. The two hungry men quickly came over, but their excitement turned to disappoi
"Nothing like that!" Zuko's eyes flickered with a complex glint. "I'm just asking on your behalf. If you really marry Lena in the future, your dad will surely ask about it even if I don't!"Chris paused and put down his cutlery with a frown.Lena's expression also changed slightly. She forced herself to remain composed, ate some soup, and then placed the bowl and spoon in the sink.Zuko left after that, leaving only her and Chris in the room.She cleared the table and was about to wash the dishes when Chris' hands suddenly blocked her way."The water's cold. I'll wash them."Lena paused and saw Chris had already turned on the tap, swiftly washing the pots and dishes.She listened to the soothing flow of water, silently observing him. His sleeves were rolled up, showcasing his strong forearms. The sink was a bit low, making him bend slightly, yet his broad back remained as reassuring as ever like the protective fortress guarding her heart.What about her? Was her background dese
Lena's nose tingled, wanting to cry, but she held back tears. Even in front of her beloved, she aimed to keep her strength.Chris smiled, his finger brushing her cheek, and gently kissed her forehead.Lena whispered, "If you learned about my past someday... would you see me differently?""Why? Was your past that of a fairy reborn?" Chris teased.Lena gave him a playful punch.Chris nuzzled her forehead. "Even if you were a monster, I'd let you devour me.""Why do you trust me so much?""Because you're Lena," he said without pause. "Because... I trust my judgment."-Renee walked into the Thompson Group's cafe once more. Sitting across from her, Jacquelin appeared submissive, offering frequent apologies.Renee's expression remained chilly, her eyes tinged with a touch of scorn, accompanied by a subtle smirk."Ms. Renee, I'm really sorry!" Jacquelin might have knelt to Renee if they were not in a public place. "I... I just really wanted to secure the deal with Ms. Bayer last t
Lina wanted to keep their relationship a secret, so Lena hid it from everyone. Lina also craved Lena's homemade chicken soup, so the latter practiced making it daily until she perfected the recipe. Once she mastered it, she eagerly sent some to Lina.The moment Lena walked into the office, Lina, who had seemed disinterested just moments before, suddenly lit up. She hurried over to Lena, resembling a cheerful sparrow."It's this taste!"Lina could not wait as she opened the container. If Lena had not stopped her, she might have lifted the container and drunk the soup directly.Lena smiled and carefully served her a bowl, placing it on the table. "Take it slowly. It's still a bit hot.""Okay!" Lina licked her lips.She had the full experience of the hardships of being pregnant during this period. Her morning sickness was quite severe, almost reaching the point of throwing up whatever she ate. The Hamertons and Thompsons' chefs tried their best to cook various international delicaci
"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