Lina had just finished organizing the snacks on the shelves when she turned around and looked at her mother. "You two are really good at this, huh?""That's not it about your mom!" Jesse smirked. "She doesn't care when people talk about her as long as they don't touch her money. Try messing with her money, and they'll know!""Jesse Jenner!" Melissa immediately threw a bottle of water at him, narrowly missing his head."I'm serious," Melissa said, looking at Zeke, who was moving the goods outside. "Since he came into our lives, our lives have been much more peaceful!"Didn't Dave say that Lina found us a door guardian?"How long can this guardian stay? Does he have any other family members?""What are you doing?" interjected Lina."I'm getting to know more about him!" Melissa thought for a moment. "Don't get involved in these matters. I'll interrogate him slowly and make him confess the truth!"Lina looked at her mother, feeling both amused and exasperated, and laughed softly.
Lina's expression darkened, and anger surged within her. She was about to say something when Zuko stepped forward and blocked her behind him. It momentarily stunned her.Zuko's broad back shielded her completely, preventing her from seeing Violet's malicious smile or the wicked faces of the thugs. He was like a wall, isolating her from the ugliness of the world.Lina's heart warmed, and she wore a barely noticeable smile.Zuko's voice turned cold. "Ms. Grist, if you have something to say, say it to me.""Say it to you? Who do you think you are?" Violet crossed her arms and sneered. "It seems like you're enjoying your newlywed life. You're quite protective of her! Is this little b*tch skilled in bed to make you so devoted?""Violet Grist, watch your mouth! You—"Before Lina could finish her sentence, Zuko pressed her head back behind him.Lina then lifted her little head from under Zuko's arm on the other side. "Violet! You—""Go back!" Zuko continued to press her like he was pl
Lina was momentarily stunned. She saw Zuko's gaze with a hint of rebellion and disdain for everything shining through. In that instant, she not only felt safe but also filled with courage. As long as he was by her side, it was as if she could walk the path without hesitation, even if it was full of thorns ahead."Zeke!" Violet screamed hysterically, "Who do you think you are? How dare you help this b*tch against me? Have you considered the consequences?""Consequences?" Zuko sneered, his lips curling. "Ms. Grist, I didn't receive much education, so I don't know how to write the word 'consequences.' Can you teach me?""You—" "And!" Zuko's gaze darkened as he approached her step by step. "If you dare to disrespect Lina again with your filthy mouth, don't blame me for being impolite!"Violet, who had always been proud and arrogant, had never been threatened like this before. She was infuriated, shaking with a red face and shouting like a mad woman, ordering the thugs to vandalize th
Zuko was momentarily distracted and accidentally choked on the drink.After closing the supermarket for the night, Lina locked the door and headed home with Zuko. Everyone in the family had already gone to sleep.Zuko was about to move the folding bed to the porch when Lina softly stopped him. "Um...""What's wrong?" he asked."Well, are you hungry?" Lina lowered her head. "Let me prepare something for you to eat before you sleep."Upon saying that, she turned and entered the kitchen.Zuko stood alone on the porch, feeling a gentle breeze blowing. There seemed to be a sweet tinge in the air.After a while, Lina came out of the kitchen with a late-night snack. When Zuko caught a whiff of the aroma, his stomach could not help but growl."Come and eat!" Lina smiled and handed him a spoon.The late-night snack was lobster risotto. Zuko paused for a moment, and Lina explained, "The lobster you bought that day, my dad didn't eat it, and it's been in the fridge."He nodded and scoop
Lina was rendered speechless."Mom, we owe a lot to Zeke today... He was busy all day and didn't eat much, so I—""Just wait. Mom will train him!""Huh?"Before Lina could say anything, Melissa abruptly opened the kitchen door with a loud noise and said sternly, "Zeke! Bring the plate in!"Zuko was taken aback and instinctively looked at Lina. The latter turned her face away, exasperated."Zeke, come in quickly!" Melissa beckoned.Zuko reluctantly walked into the kitchen, holding the plate and a spoon.Melissa had a smile on her face and raised her eyebrows as she looked at the sink. "Put them in there!"Zuko did as she said."Wash the plates and also clean the pots!" Melissa instructed.Zuko stared at her blankly.Since he arrived, it seemed like he had not done any household chores. The last time he cooked for Lina, the kitchen had turned into a battlefield, and Melissa had ended up cleaning it up.What was Melissa planning to do now? Teaching him how to do housework?Z
Zuko shook his head like a rattle drum and rushed out of the living room in a panic. Melissa wore a cryptic smile watching his anxious figure."Oh, honey!" Jesse rubbed his eyes and came out, startled by Melissa standing at the bedroom door. "Are you summoning spirits here when you're not sleeping in the middle of the night?""Get lost!" Melissa slapped his head with a palm and rolled her eyes.Jesse became much more awake. He saw the figure on the porch and looked at his wife's mysterious smile, suddenly understanding something.He pulled her back into the room and lowered his voice. "Say, you wouldn't really choose him as our daughter's husband, would you?""Why not?" Melissa raised an eyebrow, looking pleased. "I just asked about his family background! His family background may not be great, but if we want to find a son-in-law for Lina, he's quite suitable!""What!?""Do you want our daughter to marry into another family and leave us in the future?"Jesse froze, shaking his
Zuko was involved in various activities with the family. He would send and pick up Lina from school, and she would assist at the store.Melissa would engage in conversations with him, while Jesse would pour him wine whenever he drank. Dave looked up to him and occasionally received fighting lessons from him. Overall, he felt connected with the family.However, Zuko noticed that Lina had been ignoring him lately. She would not turn her head to acknowledge him when entering the university gate as she used to.Moreover, she started leaving school later and would quickly walk ahead of him, keeping her head down. At home, she acted as if he didn't exist, and even at the store, she pretended he wasn't there. It was clear that she was deliberately avoiding him.This confused Zuko. They were fine just two days ago, so why was she pushing him away now? Could it be that all women were fickle-minded?Being accustomed to women approaching him whenever he was in a social setting, Zuko found it
Lina looked melancholic and worried on her way home.She was in no mood to participate in the university activity. The calendar filled her head—it was the 15th today, yet her period had been two weeks late.Lina did not know what was happening.A few days ago…Lian happened to hear about a fellow student who had gotten pregnant from her boyfriend a few days ago. She was helpless and wanted to get an abortion at the hospital.At that moment, Lina shivered as the strange night she had spent with Zeke flashed through her head!Her arms and legs felt weak, so she bought a pregnancy test stick.Lina tested uneasily and was only slightly relieved when she saw only one line on it. However, she had read on the Internet that many people said testing one time might not be accurate.As such, she was so stressed that she was almost breaking down.…Lina had been treating Zuko as if he were invisible and being cold to him the past few days.Firstly, she felt numb from the stress. Secondl
"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