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