"Must you interfere in my affairs, you stinky brat?" Drake grumbled, annoyed.Alexander was his son, and he didn't plan to keep secrets from him. In his eyes, they shared the same blood. No matter how much he scolded or disciplined him, he couldn't abandon his own flesh and blood.He opened a drawer and found a pair of scissors, cutting off Nala's braids, which fell to the floor.Alexander was shocked. He wanted to stop his father, but he knew he couldn't match Drake's strength, so he bit his lip and approached him. "Dad, are you really going to sell this girl?""It's not my choice. It's what Bianca wants," Drake said with a frown, instructing Alexander to fetch some of his old clothes from the wardrobe.Alexander brought the clothes and watched as Drake's dirty hands tore at Nala's small dress. He exclaimed, "What are you doing?""You little troublemaker!" Drake glared at him. "Lower your voice. Do you want to expose us?""Dad, you—""I need to change this girl's clothes! Her
Bianca halted, fixated on Chris. He appeared uneasy, isolated in a corner, engrossed in his phone, and occasionally relocating to make calls elsewhere.She quietly trailed him, faintly catching his hushed and anxious words."Have you found her?""Tell them not to worry... If the kidnappers are after money, they'll definitely call!"Her heart raced. 'Kidnappers? Who are they searching for? Is that Lena on the other end?'Suddenly, Toph called out, "Chris, what are you doing?"Bianca concealed herself as Toph dashed over in his usual carefree manner to usher Chris away."My brother couldn't find you anywhere. Why did you come here? Come eat!"As they proceeded, Chris and Toph coincidentally passed by Bianca. Their eyes locked, causing both of them to freeze.Bianca swiftly evaded his gaze and forced a greeting, "Chris...""Eh, Bianca?" Toph inquired, much like Arya, "What are you doing here? My brother didn't invite you, did he?""You..."Bianca's frustration grew, but Toph a
The unexpected question stunned Alexander. Nala gazed at him with sorrowful, big eyes. In one moment, he was the reliable 'big brother'—in the next, he couldn't even provide a meal.Alexander winced and tried to change the subject to divert her attention. "Are you really hungry?""Yes!" Nala's tears teetered on the edge. She pouted and whimpered, "I was supposed to eat at the hotel with my mom... She even said we'd order braised bass...""Don't cry, don't cry! It's just a fish...""But I'm hungry!"Alexander felt uneasy. Engaging her in conversation was proving difficult.Finally, he managed to calm Nala. He had an idea and extended his arm to her, sleeves rolled up. "If you're truly starving, you can bite me first!"Nala stared at him in disbelief."I come from a poor family, and we didn't always have food. When I was really hungry as a kid, I'd munch on... things that could keep hunger at bay."Nala looked puzzled.Alexander smiled and explained, "For example, when there wa
"Nothing!" He smiled reassuringly at Nala, determined to take her away from this place.A loud bang came from the factory door, followed by the distinct sound of high heels clicking on the ground.Alexander swiftly signaled Nala, who promptly pretended to be unconscious on the floor. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes."Is this the child?" Bianca's tone was commanding.Standing behind her, Brake grunted, "Yes."Bianca took a few steps closer, carefully inspecting the child in the dim light. Suddenly, her expression shifted."Is this... the young heiress of the Chriss family?"Drake was dumbfounded. When he had abducted the child, he did not know her family's identity.Bianca sneered. "Dickinson, I instructed you to fetch the Hamerton child, not the Chriss one! And you claim you didn't deceive me?""Well..." Drake scratched his head. "Ms. Bianca, your goal is to pin in on Lena, right? It doesn't matter who we kidnap! As long as we have the child, she's implicated in
Lena gazed at him, her lips moving as a complex expression crossed her face.Suddenly, Chris' phone rang. It was Fleur calling, sounding anxious as she urged him to return immediately.Chris had no choice but to follow his mother's instructions and bring Lena back to the Hamertons.They found Zuko and Lina already present inside the spacious living room, all wearing serious expressions.When Lena entered, Fleur appeared to have something important to say, her gaze fixed on Lena.Lina locked eyes with Lena and smiled determinedly, leaving Lena slightly puzzled.Bianca calmly entered the room, catching Lena's attention."Aunt Fleur, Chris, I've located Nala! I know where she is!" Bianca announced eagerly.Chris paused, surprised. "How did you find out? What's the source of this information?"Bianca smiled confidently. "Don't think you're the only one with connections just because you were in the special forces. The Hamertons aren't all-powerful, and there are things you can't un
"Aunt Fleur, haven't you understood yet? I'll share everything I've found," Bianca said with smug satisfaction.She fixed a cold gaze on Lena and continued. "Krystal Harding, Ms. Harding's biological mother, was involved in human trafficking. She sent her daughter to live with Drake. I even heard that Krystal abducted Drake's wife and sold her to him!"As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I mean, a human trafficker's daughter might be involved in human trafficking too, don't you think?"So, do you still believe Nala's disappearance has nothing to do with Ms. Harding?""Bianca!" Lina stepped forward, her voice angry. "Stop making accusations without evidence!""Ms. Thompson, you've misunderstood me," Bianca said, looking at her. "I did this investigation for your benefit. You have a daughter. Can you trust Lena around her?""Enough!" Chris shouted.Lena jumped and stared at him in disbelief. But there was no doubt on his face.Chris was still protecting her, lo
Bianca remained composed and grinned. "Ms. Thompson, don't you trust me?""I only trust in evidence.""But Nala Chriss is missing, and it's linked to Lena's adoptive father and brother. That's a fact!"Lina blinked, surprised and almost bursting into laughter. How could someone tell such blatant lies with a straight face?Did she truly believe the security cameras in the hotel's backyard were completely malfunctioning? Did she genuinely think that with the Thompsons and Hamertons' resources, they couldn't fix a single surveillance camera?Zuko comfortingly patted Lina's shoulder and discreetly handed her his phone.Lina glanced at the message he had received from his subordinate: [Mr. Hamerton, we're working diligently to recover the surveillance data. The truth will come out very soon!]Lina couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Bianca was only making her situation worse by hastily accusing Lena. They just needed to remain patient, and she would expose herself.Just then, the butl
Chris paced outside the police station. He spotted a young police officer rushing out and quickly approached."Pete!"Pete, the officer in question, greeted him warmly with a grin."You rascal!" Chris playfully punched him. "What's going on? Why didn't you let me know beforehand?"Pete Bellamy scratched his head, still grinning.Pete was one of the officers who had taken Lena from the Hamertons earlier. It wasn't just Chris who was surprised—even Bianca hadn't expected the police to show up.Despite this, Pete and Chris had exchanged knowing glances when he left the Hamerton residence. Understanding the situation, Chris had waited for him outside the police station.Pete lowered his voice. "Chris, don't worry. Lena knows what to say and what not to. She's level-headed, and there won't be any trouble.""Who ordered you to bring her here?"Pete shrugged. "Ms. Thompson, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Everything happened so quickly that there wasn't time to inform you."
"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