Chris still had questions. "Why did you go to the hospital?"Alexander's throat felt dry. He drank a large glass of water and slowly began to explain the whole story. Initially, he hadn't witnessed the scene at the hospital himself.One night, he was jolted awake by a nightmare. The Nala in his dream matched the description he had given earlier. He had woken up drenched in cold sweat, shivering, unable to fall back asleep. The same dream continued to haunt him.In the dream, Nala appeared helpless, as if she wanted to speak but couldn't.Alexander's curiosity grew stronger, and he couldn't resist going to the hospital to learn more. The outcome was surprising."In the end, I really saw her," Alexander said in a hushed tone. "At that moment, she was seated in a wheelchair, with a nurse pushing her. I didn't dare approach her. I followed them until they reached her ward's door. I called her softly, and she turned to look at me. It was exactly like in my dream!"Chris and Lena were
The woman stood still, her body tense. Her golden mask, a true work of art adorned with gemstones, concealed the upper part of her face, revealing only her lips and chin. It was more than just a mask—it was a masterpiece.Elijah's expression darkened as he whispered to his subordinate, "After all this searching, you bring me this?!"The subordinate stammered nervously, "S-Sir, we hired the best private investigators in Centrolis and followed your leads. This is the result."The subordinate handed over some documents to Elijah, who flipped through them with mixed emotions. They lacked a photograph of the woman and contained only a brief life history.Sasha Harding had spent her life in Southeast Aciatic, frequenting entertainment establishments and having strong ties to the criminal underworld there. Most notably, her mother was none other than the infamous Madame Krys, a human trafficker."You're Sasha Harding?" Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Is your mother Krystal Harding?""That's co
When Sasha mentioned her reluctance to cooperate with the bone marrow typing, Kasey felt anxious and quickly agreed to her conditions."Kasey!" Elijah shouted suddenly and shook his head at Kasey.Tears welled up in Kasey's eyes as she glanced at Elijah and stepped back.Sasha continued to discuss her terms with them. "Before we proceed with the bone marrow typing, transfer 700,000 dollars to my account. I'll provide you with the details later. After a successful typing, I want half of the family's assets.""What did you say?" Elijah grew increasingly suspicious of Sasha."Doesn't that seem fair?" Sasha smirked. "The Chrisses didn't raise me, and the first time we meet, you want my bone marrow. Shouldn't I receive compensation?"Elijah remained silent. He had intended to compensate her even without Sasha mentioning it, but it felt odd when she brought it up.Surprisingly, Kasey nodded in agreement."Are you serious?" Elijah couldn't contain his frustration."Elijah, it's you w
But there was also a 50% chance Sasha might be his sister.Elijah rubbed his temples tiredly. Suddenly, it was as if a lightning bolt had struck his mind. Bianca's words from Harold's banquet flashed in his memory: "Lena's mother is involved in human trafficking! She grew up in that environment, so she must know the trade!"Elijah's eyes lit up, and his heart raced."What's happening to you?" Kasey asked, puzzled by his unusual expression.She gently patted his shoulder, wiped her tears, and said, "You're right. I shouldn't have acted impulsively. But I still believe we should convince Sasha to take a DNA test for everyone's peace of mind. How about I talk to her about it?""No need," Elijah practically growled. "I... I need to see someone first.""Who?""Bianca Mosley."Kasey was very confused. "Bianca? Isn't she in prison? Even the Mosleys don't want to see her!""Yes, that's why someone visiting her now might trigger an emotional response. She might reveal something because
Upon learning of Nala's illness from Alexander, Lena rushed to the hospital in great distress. She repeatedly called Elijah along the way, wanting to ask him why he hadn't informed her about Nala's condition and why he had kept it a secret. Additionally, she wanted to know what illness Nala was suffering from.However, Elijah did not answer her calls, and Lena's attempt to reach Kasey yielded the same result.Just as she was about to dial Elijah's number again, Chris gently took her hand."Don't make any more calls," Chris said softly. "Their daughter is sick, and they must be going through a tough time. Besides, it's not good news to spread around.""But..."Chris hesitated before continuing. "Lena… Actually... you're just an outsider to them. Even though Nala sometimes treats you as her aunt, you're still considered an outsider."Lena's eyes dimmed.Indeed, he was right. What was her place in Elijah's life? At best, she was an employee, a former colleague, and a current partne
The doctor paused momentarily, then said, "Just a while ago, Mr. Chriss' sister came.""Sister?" Chris suddenly felt something was amiss. "What sister?"The doctor didn't elaborate. He managed to smile at Chris and departed.Lena whispered, "Did you forget? Didn't they mention that the Chrisses have an illegitimate daughter..."Chris frowned. "So... this illegitimate daughter turned out to be a bone marrow match for Nala?"Lena remained silent and turned toward the ward. Nala's emotions had steadied, but she still lay curled up on the bed, softly weeping. It was a heart-wrenching sight.But what did her reaction just now signify?She mentioned hating her aunt. Didn't she used to say her favorite person was her aunt?-Lina and Zuko were preparing for their second child.One day, the group gathered at a lesser-known outdoor restaurant, relishing delicious food and the warmth of the spring sun.Chris playfully suggested they should have enough children to form a soccer team, a
Everyone was chatting happily except Lena, who stayed silent.Lina noticed Lena's sadness and gently asked, "What's wrong?"Lena looked at her, hesitated, and then said, "I... I saw Nala.""So, she really is sick, huh?" Toph chimed in, always direct. "I heard Elijah and Kasey have been really upset lately. My info was correct, wasn't it?""Yeah, she's sick," Chris replied softly. "But she's not the same Nala we knew.""What do you mean?""She used to be thrilled to see Lenny, but this time... she actually said she hates her."They were all confused.Lena had been baffled these past few days.Lina held Lena's hand and comforted her, "Kids have tantrums, especially when they're unwell. If you visit her more, she might get back to her old self."Lena nodded, but Lina had different thoughts.-The next day, Lina took Persephone for a checkup at the hospital. The 1-year-old Persephone was healthy and calm during the blood test, captivating the hospital staff.Meanwhile, on the
Sasha smirked, watching Lina leave before making her way to the hospital's rear entrance. The area was deserted. She calmly wore her mask and arrived punctually for her meeting with Kasey.The cafe adjacent to the hospital was tranquil, with Kasey already seated by a window. Spotting Sasha, she waved enthusiastically.Sunlight poured through the window, casting an unusual gleam on Sasha's golden mask, which seemed to dazzle Kasey."Sasha..." Kasey began hesitantly, "When can we do the compatibility test?"Sasha leaned back with a faint smile. Behind her mask, her eyes sparkled with a chilly shrewdness. "The timing for the test is up to you.""You...""I've mentioned it before. I need to see the money first. Otherwise, I have no reason to help a child who isn't connected to me in any way.""Sasha!" Kasey's emotions started to show. "How can you say Nala has no connection to you? She's Elijah's daughter!"Sasha grinned. "But I don't carry the Chriss last name."Kasey was stunned
"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