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
"I came here to sign the consent form for the compatibility test. Since I'm already here, I might as well drop by to see this little one!"Elijah turned to Nala and said, "Nala, this is—"Before he could introduce her, Nala shrank back, though her gaze remained fixed on Sasha's face. She said softly, timidly, "Hello, aunt."Elijah and Kasey were surprised. "What did you say?" they asked in unison.Nala lowered her head and fell silent.Sasha smiled and said, "Didn't you both hear? She called me her aunt.""But... it's your first time meeting, right?" Elijah's eyes showed a hint of suspicion. The situation felt increasingly strange, tying a knot in his heart.Kasey, however, seemed unfazed.Sasha looked at the two of them and asked, "What's with these expressions?""It's a bit unexpected," Elijah said calmly. "Nala is usually shy, especially with someone wearing a mask whose true face she can't see. Normally, she wouldn't initiate a greeting, except for before..."Elijah stopp
Nala stuttered and couldn't explain clearly; she simply kept crying. "She's my aunt, and she's a bit fierce," she finally managed to say.Elijah embraced his daughter, gently patting her back. "You're doing well, Nala. Take your time. How was she tough with you?"But, no matter how they probed, Nala couldn't express the full story. She was bewildered. Why did Lena, who was usually gentle and kind, suddenly change and look at her angrily? Did Lena dislike her now because she was sick?Nala burst into tears, even coughing due to her weakened condition. Elijah swiftly carried her back to her room. Doctors and nurses didn't delay, immediately examining her.Kasey stood disoriented outside, leaning against the wall. She wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come.After a while, Elijah emerged. He looked at her with a hint of pity. He patted her shoulder, and they exchanged glances before tightly embracing each other."Elijah, did I do something wrong?""No," Elijah reassured her.He
"What's wrong?" Lina looked at her in confusion and asked, "Did you go to the hospital that day?""I did," Lena replied softly.She had gone to the hospital but had no memory of meeting Lina. Moreover, she hadn't visited Nala's ward that day. She knew Nala was now wary of her and didn't want to add to the girl's stress while she was unwell.Lena frowned. Could there be a misunderstanding?Just then, Chris returned home with a bag of fresh fruits, all of which Lena loved. Zuko followed behind him."You both came just in time!" Chris smiled. "Stay for lunch. I've improved my cooking skills!""Your cooking was already great," Lina teased. "That's why Lenny gained some weight."Lena instinctively glanced at her waistline.Chris smiled and took the groceries into the kitchen. He prepared a table full of dishes and soup in no time, impressing Lina.If Zuko had prepared this spread, it would have taken forever, and the kitchen would be a mess afterward. Plus, they wouldn't even be su
Elijah stood there, stunned, his mind momentarily blank."Mr. Chriss? Mr. Chriss! Are you there?" The voice on the other end of the line snapped Elijah back to reality, and he frowned in confusion."May I ask... what was the reason for this prisoner's suicide?" he asked."That's currently under investigation," the other party said. "As far as we know, Ms. Mosley had been in a bad emotional state since entering prison, facing disdain from her family. Perhaps this led to her thoughts of despair."Elijah's puzzlement deepened. If she had been struggling emotionally, why did she choose to end her life just before his visit? Was it merely a coincidence?"Mr. Chriss, due to this reason, we have to cancel your prison visit this time.""Alright, I understand," Elijah replied, his thoughts weighed down by the news.After a brief silence, he instructed his subordinate, "Please arrange for Sasha to undergo the bone marrow compatibility test immediately. Remember what I said."His subordin
Zachary gazed at her, his disappointment evident in his expression."Zachary, I need one more favor," Sasha stated, disregarding his mood. "Can you bring Lena here?""What's your plan?""What else?" Sasha sneered. "It's for a bone marrow compatibility test. Do you really expect me to be tested?""You—""What?"Zachary couldn't hold back any longer. "That child calls you her aunt! She's in a life-threatening situation, and you won't save her?""Aunt?" Sasha chuckled, her face unfeeling. "What kind of aunt am I? Besides, Lena is her aunt too! Why can't she provide bone marrow?""Sasha!""Don't lecture me about family!" Sasha glared at him. "I despise it when people use family to manipulate me. Zachary, let me tell you, only one of the twins can survive! So, who are you going to choose between me and Lena?"Zachary clenched his lips, his face reddening and veins pulsating on his forehead."You've seen me grow up." Sasha finally rose from the sofa and linked arms with him, her g
"Zachary, must you speak up for her?" Sasha's gaze turned icy. "Have you considered who you've raised since childhood?"Zachary paused and averted his gaze slowly. He had a stronger emotional bond with Sasha, having been with her since she was a child.However, there was a hurdle in his heart he couldn't cross, and that was Lena, the daughter of Krystal, his savior."Zachary, after my mom's last breakfast with me in Southeast Aciatic, she headed to Centrolis. She got caught by the police on her way back... Remember what she told you in prison?" Sasha knew this was Zachary's weak point and exploited it."Your mom told me to take care of you."Sasha lightly held his hand. "Zachary, you always talk about repaying kindness. Can't you fulfill my mom's request?""She asked me to take care of you, not to help you harm her other daughter!""You're wrong. My mom only has one daughter!" Sasha's eyes looked crazed. "Between me and her, only one can survive!""You..."Sasha sneered, pulle
Zachary gazed at Lena, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions welling up inside him.As he remained silent, fixated on her, Lena grew slightly perplexed. Sensing his unease, she decided to lead him away from the bustling crowd and handed him a bottle of water."Sir, did you get hurt when you fell just now?" she asked.Zachary responded with a smile. "I'm fine. But what about you? Others ignored my fall, yet you lent a helping hand."Lena hesitated briefly. "Well, you fell, so it was only natural to help."A meaningful glance from Zachary followed. "Aren't you worried I might accuse you? Didn't you notice? The people around hesitated to assist, and some even recorded the incident.""Perhaps there are a few conniving individuals in society who've tarnished common decency, but it doesn't mean everyone is malicious," Lena replied with a smile."Do you have faith in people?""I didn't use to."Lena sat beside Zachary, both of them gazing up at the sky. From this angle, she bore a strik
"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