Persephone hesitated, her gaze fixed on the man who stood and bid farewell.The autumn breeze rustled, scattering golden sycamore leaves from the ground. The setting sun bathed the man's figure, giving him an almost gilded appearance. He exuded an aura of intimidation that kept everyone at bay."Let's head home, Sephy," the nanny said, reaching for her hand."Do you know him?" Persephone asked, lifting her face.The nanny shook her head, her fear of the imposing man evident. "Okay, Sephy, let's go! This place is pretty isolated, and we can't return here."Hand in hand, they entered the car with the escort of bodyguards.Before departing, Persephone instinctively glanced at where the man had been. Unfortunately, no one else was in sight besides a few scattered tourists.-The board of directors remained undecided about the Hamerton Group's theme park renovation proposal. Some members aimed to please Toph, urging Zuko to invest, considering it a negligible sum. Yet, others percei
Linda shook her head. She hadn't spoken much with Daniel over the years. However, he was always kind to her when they were young.She recalled a time when she was at university, and Daniel, still in primary school, took money from home to find her in Jangasas all on his own. When Nicholas was in prison, he would frequently call her to comfort her, fearing she would be sad.His way of thinking was childlike but pure. During her lowest moments, she felt the warmth of family through him.Later, she would visit him in Cumulus City. They would enjoy joyful conversations with her sibling on the famous food street.But as time passed, they grew apart.She had only heard rumors of his involvement in a family dispute. Despite being the least likely to inherit the family assets, he emerged victorious at a young age. People described him as cunning and heartless, showing no mercy to those who crossed him. He became a powerful figure in Cumulus City.Yet, he still held great respect for her.
At the celebration feast marking the completion of the theme park renovation, Linda spotted Daniel, whom she hadn't seen in years. She was taken aback at first.He no longer resembled the cheerful, innocent boy she remembered. Experience had given him a sense of maturity and composure. His eyes held a coldness, and his demeanor exuded power that could instill fear in others.Approaching Linda, they gazed at each other for a prolonged moment and exchanged smiles."You must be Cordelia, right?" Daniel asked, turning to the woman beside Linda. "You look just the same as when we were young. You haven't changed a bit!"Cordelia smiled and replied, "You're too kind with your words. It's been years. I even have a grandchild now. How could I remain unchanged?""Both of you would still stand out in the crowd, even in your golden years," Daniel commented.After a brief conversation with Cordelia, she departed, leaving Linda alone with her thoughts. Many things had changed, but it felt as i
Linda suddenly felt uneasy and quickly looked toward Daniel. However, Daniel's gaze wasn't fixed on Persephone. He seemed to be gazing aimlessly, but his expression showed a subtle hint of emotion.Noticing Linda's distress, Cordelia took her cold hand and spoke softly, making sure Daniel could hear her too. "Linda, no matter what, we're still family. I remember when Daniel was a young boy."He secretly used our family's money to take a train and visit you in Jangasas during winter's first snowfall. He wasn't warmly dressed and ended up shivering at the train station. He was even mistaken for a runaway child and sent to a welfare institution."Your bond is strong, and I believe Daniel wouldn't do anything wrong."Daniel glanced at her, and Cordelia continued with a smile, emphasizing her point. "However, people can change."Mr. Quimby, you and Linda can change. While blood is thicker than water, sometimes justice takes precedence over family. You must have heard of the Thompson fa
Maisie's gaze was crystal-clear, while her smile was just as pure as it was five years ago when he first laid eyes on her. However, her eyes now held no sign of longing, admiration, love, or hatred for him.Daniel felt a sudden pang in his heart."Sir? Sir?" Maisie noticed his distraction and gently called out to him. "Sir, what's wrong?"Daniel snapped back to reality, offering a polite smile. He apologized, "I'm sorry. It was my mistake earlier. I shouldn't have brought this teddy bear in. It distracted the children.""This teddy bear is adorable," Maisie replied with a smile. "Not only do the children like it, but I do too!""Is that right?" Daniel's usually cold eyes sparkled warmly.The bear was a gift he had given her five years ago, and she didn't recall anything about it."If you like it, you can put it in the classroom." Daniel's voice trembled slightly. "You and the children can enjoy it every day."Maisie was momentarily puzzled, feeling a strange sensation. The man
"What did you say?" Daniel asked.Persephone seriously repeated, "You're not as handsome as the prince!""You little rascal!" Daniel raised his hand as if to spank her, but it was all in jest.Persephone couldn't avoid it, and she was lifted up and tickled, laughing uncontrollably.Sadly, the ice cream cone met its end, falling entirely onto Daniel's coat.Persephone froze, her empty hand and Daniel's coat catching her eye. Her face turned beet red. After a few moments of silence, she began to cry."Sephy, please don't cry!" Daniel had never comforted a child, let alone a preschooler with such a loud voice.The passersby gave him strange looks, wondering if he was mistreating the little girl."Oh, Sephy!" He quickly tried to console her. "Don't cry!"Persephone pushed his hand away."Stop crying!" Daniel raised his voice sternly. "That's enough!""Wah—""Why cry over something so small? If you want more ice cream, I'll get you another one!""You big meanie!" Persephone pou
Daniel's request to Persephone was quite simple."It's a small thing," he said with a smile. "I want to pick you up from school every day from now on.""Hmm?" Persephone, being mischievous, furrowed her brows."Does that mean my dad and mom, Grandpa Zephyr, Grandma Cordelia, Grandpa Nicholas, and Grandma Linda can't come anymore?" she asked."Try to keep them from coming," Daniel said earnestly, making up excuses. "Think about it. Your parents are always busy with work, and sometimes they might forget to pick you up. Your grandparents, Zephyr and Cordelia, are busy running a cafe, and your other grandparents..."Daniel hesitated, scratching his head. "Well, they're all busy too.""So, you're the only one who's free?"Daniel blinked and nodded."Alright," Persephone agreed. "But I have one condition.""Oh? What is it?""You have to bring me delicious treats every day!" she stated.With a smile, Daniel extended his pinky finger to seal the deal.This time, he bought Persephon
Daniel's swift reaction startled Maisie, freezing her in place as she gazed at him."Sir? Are you...""Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Daniel grabbed a tissue from the nearby table and gently wiped away the blood. "Do you have any band-aids in your office?"Maisie shook her head."I'll go buy some.""No need." Maisie stopped him. "It's just a small cut. I used to prick my hand often during crafts."Daniel furrowed his brows. "No!"It wasn't just a minor cut to him—she was bleeding. It was a significant concern. The needle might not have been sterilized, and there could be germs on it. What if she got an infection?Daniel's typically calm and rational mind was now filled with vivid imagination."It's really not a big deal," Maisie said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "How could I trouble you? Uh... Are you here to pick up Persephone? She hasn't finished her class yet.""Oh..." Daniel replied casually, realizing he might have overreacted earlier.Maisie noticed he was still holding h
"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