Ch. 1341..1350

Chapter 1341

Chapter 1341

Lena breathed deeply, her heart racing, her mind a mess of thoughts that suddenly went blank. Despite her late-night effort to study the sales department's materials in the past few days, it all seemed to vanish from her memory.

Jade Neale walked by the front desk and ushered Lena into her office with a smile.

Lena followed with a blank expression. As she moved from the front desk to the office, she seemed to be the subject of whispers and pointing.

"Pay no attention to them," Jade chuckled, handing Lena a cup of coffee.

She then lowered the blinds in the office. "The sales department is as big as the marketing department, both being the company's largest departments. With so many people, there's always talk. Just ignore whatever they're saying about you."

Lena nodded, looking up to assess Jade.

Jade, the sales team leader, was a friendly middle-aged woman. She had a confident presence that wasn't overpowering and an easygoing personality.

Lina had asked Jade to bring Lena in discreetly.

Jade could already more or less guess the nature of their relationship. Her boss was safeguarding her closest friend, so it made sense for her to do the same. In a rumor-filled environment, hiding their connection was the best protection.

Jade smiled, adjusted her glasses, and chatted, "What did you hear just now?"

Lena scratched her head with an embarrassed smile.

"I guess it's because you're so pretty that they're interested in you."

"Well..."

"In our line of work, being pretty is an advantage. But remember, beauty is a powerful card, but it's only a winning hand when played with other cards. Beauty alone will lead to a stalemate." "Got it, I understand," Lena said softly.

"Also, while the sales department is busy, there's a lot of idle gossip. Don't pay any attention to what others say about you. Your task is to close sales and make money!

"As long as you're making money within legal bounds, the company will support your individuality unconditionally."

Lena could not help but laugh at the pep talk, gradually opening up to Jade.

Jade was someone who kept her lips sealed and was good at reading the situation. She would not spill the beans about Lena and Lina's relationship.

However, not everyone in the sales department was like Jade.

From the moment Lena took her seat at her workstation, comments about her never stopped. Everyone was busy with work, so they would not say things to her face. During breaks, however, the break room became a gathering place for gossip when they went to get water or snacks.

As Lena passed by, she heard her name being mentioned.

"Hey, do you guys know anything about the background of the new girl who came today?"

Lena halted her steps.

She had a strong ability to adapt to new environments. Although she was nervous initially, she managed to remember the names of every person in the sales department in just one morning after calming down She could match each name to a face and even recognize their voices.

This voice was obviously Jacquelin Dillon's.

Lena stayed composed and recalled.

Jacquelin seemed to be the sales department's socialite. She had a decent performance, but the different outfits, shoes, bags, and jewelry she wore every day stood out even more than her sales.

"Ms. Neale just took her into the office, and she ended up sitting among us?" Jacquelin pursed her lips. "The sales department doesn't even go through the proper procedures in recruiting anymore? At the very least, the HR department should give a notification, right?"

"I heard Ms. Thompson brought her," someone else said softly.

"Right, that's it!" A third person chimed in. "I asked the HR department."

"Is it true?"

"So, what's her relationship with Ms. Thompson?"

Chapter 1342

Chapter 1342

"There's none!" The one who disclosed the information smiled. "Said she's a distant niece of a friend of a friend of Ms. Thompson's. Well, you can barely call that a connection, basically!" Lena stood at the doorway, and her lips pursed lightly.

She knew Lina had said that to protect her, to keep her low-key so she would not become a target the moment she stepped into the workplace. Staying discreet would also give her more time to focus on studying and learning so she could make a remarkable debut in the future.

It was just that people often tended to put those in power on a pedestal or belittle ones deemed to have no value, especially the hypocritical individuals in the sales department.

If one had a background, they would be respectful and polite but also backstab them-just like Jacquelin.

Rumor had it that she was the trusted aide of a high-ranking executive on the board. Although she seemed arrogant and people were nice to her superficially, she was the go-to source for a few sales elites, who intercepted a considerable share of her resources.

If one had no background, everyone could step on them-just like Lena.

When that person said she could barely be connected to Lina, a burst of quiet laughter erupted in the break room.

Then, people started to make malicious remarks.

"When she first came in, I only noticed that she looked good and thought she was a big shot. Turns out she's like a mute and sat there motionless all morning!"

"And she's dressed so plainly, in all black! Anyone who doesn't know might think her family died!"

"Hey, don't be so mean..."

"It's not like she can hear us saying this here... Hey, don't you think she seems quite mature for her age? Maybe we should call her 'Granny Harding' from now on! Hahaha!" Lena's gaze was cold.

In truth, she did not care what others said. She had heard much worse before. She just found this group of people annoying.

The Thompson Group was vast, and there were bound to be people with bad intentions. How could Lina manage the company with lazy and dishonest employees around?

Nicholas had painstakingly established the company. It couldn't be allowed to crumble because of a few pests!

Lena bit her lip as she sneaked a glance inside and left quietly.

Those in the break room were fervently discussing, except for Jacquelin, who did not quite share their views.

With her understanding of the executives, she did not believe they would be so idle as to recruit someone completely without connection. Lina, in particular, would not be bothered with unrelated matters. It was not that Lena did not have a background-she just did not flaunt it.

The more she avoided attention, the bigger the problem was!

Jacquelin suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She composed herself and cleared her throat forcefully.

"Alright, we've been out here for quite a while. Let's hurry back! If Jade comes looking for you, let's see how you handle it!"

"Jackie, what do you think of that Lena?"

"What's there to think of her?" Jacquelin narrowed her eyes. "Dogs that bite don't bark. Watch and see!"

Lena did not pay much attention to what those people were saying. She returned to her workstation and continued to bury herself in her research. After work, she voluntarily stayed behind, engrossed in studying the materials. When she looked up, she realized it was already dark outside.

She hurried downstairs and suddenly spotted the handsome face across the street.

"Hey!" Chris hurried over as soon as he saw her. "How was your first day of work?"

Chapter 1343

Chapter 1343

Lena softly chuckled and nodded, then shook her head.

Chris did not quite understand what she meant. Lena did not explain but simply continued walking along the street, with Chris following behind.

The evening breeze carried a gentle chill, and the moon shone in the night sky, resembling a silver plate. Its soft light covered them and filled the city with a peaceful feeling.

The feeling of having someone by her side felt really nice. Lena had been missing this feeling for too long.

"Lena, you're not planning to walk all the way back, are you?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.

Mr. Special Forces looked anxious, but his eyes were filled with anticipation.

"Well..." Lena's voice was soft. "Are you going to take me back?"

"I won't take you back." Chris chuckled. "I want to treat you to a late-night snack."

"Huh?"

Without waiting for further explanation, Chris took Lena's hand and ran.

Lena's heart jolted. Her rational mind wanted to pull away, but her fingers held on tightly.

As the wind brushed past her lips when they ran, it carried a faintly sweet scent. Lena giggled and ran harder.

Before long, Chris brought her to a small pizza parlor. The sign was not large, but the place was very clean. The owner was a genial middle-aged man, his voice booming as he welcomed them. His laughter was especially hearty.

It was already late at night, and no other patrons were in the shop.

Chris led Lena to a table by the window and ordered two small pizzas.

When the steaming pizzas arrived, neither of them made a move.

Chris smiled at her. "What's wrong?"

Perhaps sensing the confusion in her eyes, he took the initiative to explain, "The owner of this pizza place is a comrade's father from my unit. Don't be fooled by the small size of the shop. The portions are generous, and the place is clean. The taste is pretty good, too. All the pizzas are hand-rolled by my comrade's father!"

Upon saying that, Chris added some pepper flakes to her pizza. "This makes it even tastier!"

Lena paused before she smiled and asked him softly after a while, "Do you get along well with your former comrades?"

Chris did not know what she wanted to ask.

"I... I had a good first day at work." Lena said, "It's just that dealing with interpersonal relationships is a headache. I can ignore them, but sometimes, a project requires everyone to collaborate. If I keep ignoring them, then..."

"It's actually not a big deal." Chris smiled. "Some people are just not suited for socializing. People like Toph, who are social butterflies, are rare and hard to find." "Don't you think there might be something wrong with me?"

"Of course not!" Chris looked at her earnestly. "In fact, I'm not good at dealing with interpersonal relationships either... Lena, don't you think we're a match?" Lena blushed and focused on eating her pizza.

However, Chris was quick to act. Before she could pick up a pizza slice, he quickly reached over and snatched the largest slice from her.

"Hey, you..."

"I'm just trying it!"

Lena was exasperated. She piled up the slices in his place instead. As she did, she discovered a heart-shaped egg underneath the pizza. Chris leaned over to look, chuckling. "Oh my, whose heart is this? How did it end up on your plate?"

Chapter 1344

Chapter 1344

Lena looked at him and met his warm gaze. She did not say anything but subconsciously looked at the pizza. Her heart was chaotic. Chris tried to reach for her hand, but she evaded him again.

In the moment of his distraction, she reached over, picked a slice of pizza from his plate, and then took a bite of the heart-shaped egg. "Lena... Lena, this..."

"It's pretty good," she said softly.

Chris was anxious. "I wasn't talking about the egg!"

"You were talking about the pizza?"

"Lena..."

Chris had never blushed because of a woman before.

He let out a deep sigh while Lena remained steady as a rock.

Just then, the owner, Julius Sparks, came over. His booming voice broke the awkward silence.

"Are you both enjoying your meal? Would you like another serving of pizza?"

Chris glanced at the middle-aged man with his elbows on the table. He covered his face with a helpless expression.

"I have to say, this doesn't look like your usual appetite!" Julius chuckled, patting Chris on the shoulder. "You used to order three pizzas and a side! What's this? Trying to appear light in front of a pretty girl today?"

Chris attempted to use his eyes to signal Julius, trying to convey the message to him to cease speaking. Yet, Julius was like a loudspeaker. "No worries, young man! Being able to eat well is a blessing! Hehe, young lady, if you find someone who can eat like this, you're in for a treat in the future!"

Chris almost spat out his food.

"Mr. Sparks, I don't have that kind of luck." He forced a smile. "You don't need to add extra anything for me today. I'm having 'Broken Heart' pizza..."

"Broken Heart?" Julius was puzzled but understood the situation more or less after he turned to look at the composed Lena.

"It's okay, young man!" Julius laughed heartily. "As the old saying goes, 'If you keep something in your thoughts, you'll get a response'!"

"Oh, I'm not so sure!" Chris smiled. "Can't even call her by her nickname!"

Julius furrowed his brows in confusion.

Lena finished eating then and was ready to leave after wiping her mouth.

Chris got nervous instantly.

Lena paused when she got to the door and suddenly said softly, "You can from now on."

Chris felt like a clap of thunder struck him, frying his chaotic mind. He stood frozen for over ten seconds and turned to meet Julius' friendly smile.

"Catch up to her! You fool!" Julius was elated. "She's interested in you, isn't she? Looks like my efforts weren't in vain! You have no idea how many heart-shaped eggs I've made! The youngsters later told me that I could buy the mold online! Heh..."

Chris thanked Julius repeatedly and ran off. However, just as he was a few steps away, Julius' booming voice exploded behind him.

"Young man, you haven't paid for the pizzas yet!

"I've been playing along so well, and you're not paying?!"

It was late when Lena returned to the Thompsons'. She had planned to wash up and sleep, only to be shocked by a shadow in the living room once she entered!

She automatically switched on the light and realized Renee was sitting in the living room.

Lena froze and nodded at her. Just as she was going to return to her room, Renee's shaky voice came from behind her. "Why?"

Lena turned to look at her with a frown.

Renee stood very straight with her fists clenched tightly on her sides. She bit her lips with a hint of resentment in her distant gaze.

Chapter 1345

Chapter 1345

Lena's heart jolted as she whispered, "I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Oh, you don't understand?"

Lena remained polite. "Ms. Renee, it's quite late now. You should rest early."

"Stop right there!" Renee blocked Lena's path, her intense gaze fixed on her. "You haven't answered my question! W-Why has everything been different since you appeared?" "Ms. Renee..."

"Why did you always keep an eye on my mother?" Renee trembled, tears streaming down her face. "From the first day she came to the Thompsons', you said she wandered around the study with ulterior motives..."

"I didn't say anything wrong." Lena's expression was cold. "She did indeed steal Lina's design after that!"

"That wasn't my mother! That person... That person was..."

Lena spoke deliberately. "Ms. Renee, I just want to protect the safety of everyone in the Thompsons, including you. If anyone intends harm to the Thompsons, no matter who it is, I won't let them go." "Stop talking!" Renee covered her ears and stared at Lena with bloodshot eyes, bordering on hysteria. "Who do you think you are? This isn't your home!"

"This is..." Lena bit her lip, unable to utter the words. She knew this was not her home, but she was willing to guard it like one. She no longer had a mother and did not want to lose her father or her sister. Seeing she remained silent, Renee grew more convinced of her guilt.

"Lena, who really are you?" Renee pressed, stepping closer. "What's your motive?!"

Lena took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. She was not one to back down, but she did not want to argue with Renee this time.

"Ms. Renee, if you don't like me, I can leave..."

"Don't pretend!" Renee sneered. "What are you trying to do? You know very well that Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Linda won't let you! And Lina, what will she think if she learns you're leaving? The whole family wil blame me!

"Lena, who do you think you're threatening with this?"

Lena closed her eyes, feeling upset. After a long struggle, she managed to say, "I'm sorry..."

"What good does your apology do? My mother is already dead!"

"I really am sorry."

"It's all your fault-"

Renee shouted uncontrollably, but then a stern voice interrupted.

"Renee, what are you doing?"

Lena paused and looked up to see Linda coming down the stairs.

She was wearing pajamas with a thin robe draped over them. She had put on slippers with soft soles, making her footsteps nearly silent. It was unclear when she had appeared there.

Renee seemed a bit panicked, especially when she saw Linda's stern expression, completely devoid of the usual tenderness and affection for her.

"Renee, how can you lose your temper at Lena?"

"Why can't I?" Renee shouted. "It's all because of her!"

"Because of her what?" Although Linda was not angry, her presence was imposing. "Just because she treats everyone in the Thompsons sincerely and kindly gives you the right to be rude to her?" "Aunt Linda-"

"Kaitlyn's death wasn't because of Lena!" Linda emphasized. "Your mother had dissociative identity disorder, and the root cause of this mental illness was Melvin!

"If Lena hadn't kept a close watch on Kaitlyn and discovered her condition, who knows how much harm we would have suffered? Snap out of it!"

Renee lowered her head, her face pale, unable to utter a word.

Linda's tone softened. "Renee, I know your mother's death has been a big blow to you, but when she jumped off the cliff, it was to protect you... You should understand her intentions and not blame others." "I understand, Aunt Lina."

"Alright, both of you should rest now." Linda held Renee's and Lena's hands, stacking all three of their hands together. "From now on, let's have a harmonious atmosphere in our family. I don't want to hear any more quarrels. Is that clear?"

Renee nodded, but the hint of hatred in her eyes grew stronger in the dark.

Chapter 1346

Chapter 1346

Lina finally finished the last document of the morning and stretched as she glanced at the calendar on her desk. It was covered with circles and notes, all added by Zuko. He wanted to ask for more "allowance" on those days. Hopefully, there might be unexpected gains aside from pocket money.

Lina smiled, turned off her computer, and prepared to leave for home at noon. Just then, her secretary knocked on the door and entered.

"Ms. Thompson, look who's here!"

Lina looked up and was delightfully surprised to see Linda and Melissa coming together.

Abandoning the thought of Zuko's request for "allowance", she rushed over and linked arms with her mothers.

The three women sat at a hotel restaurant near the company. Lina ordered dishes that Linda and Melissa loved and happily watched the two mothers interact like old best friends.

In fact, they had indeed become like long-time best friends. Melissa had learned how to appreciate reading, tea tasting, and flower cultivation from Linda, while Linda had learned how to play poker and cards from Melissa.

The two families often spent time together. Linda let go of her grudge, and that added another set of parents who loved her daughter.

Lina picked out dishes for the two of them and smiled happily.

"Why are you two here together today? Do you have something to tell me?"

Melissa and Linda exchanged a glance and smiled at her. "I wanted to shop around. Your mom suggested coming to see you and treating you to lunch!"

"Yeah, she's paying for this meal!" Linda also laughed. "Pammy, you better not save her money!"

"How can I do that?" Lina widened her eyes. "I should be treating you both!"

"I'm footing the bill!" Melissa's eyes turned into happy crescents. "Dave received a scholarship this semester. The highest amount-it's several thousands of dollars! With such good news, shouldn't I celebrate with a meal?"

Lina was happy for Dave. She also knew that her mother was not often so generous, so she gladly agreed.

When they had nearly finished eating, Melissa went to pay the bill.

Seeing her walk away, Linda leaned in and whispered to Lina, "I have something else to discuss with you today." "What is it, mom?"

"It's about Renee." Linda looked troubled. "Can you think of a way to get her to come back to work at the company?"

Lina was taken aback. Arranging for Renee to return to the company was not difficult. After all, Linda and Nicholas had given Renee some shares as well. She was a shareholder in the company and should have been working there.

Why did Linda seem so hesitant, however?

Lina blinked. "Mom, did you discover something else about Renee? Is that why you're suddenly saying this?"

Linda nodded and briefly recounted the events of that night.

"Renee's mental state isn't good at home." Linda sighed softly. "Kaitlyn's death has been a huge blow to her. That's only natural. After all, Kaitlyn was her mother, her closest companion... But this child doesn't understand that she won't truly find happiness unless she opens up."

Linda looked at her daughter. "Like me. I used to hate Melissa and Jesse. I resented them for not reporting to the police back then, for keeping you by their side. But later, I realized that over the past 20 years, you haven't suffered at their hands. They even treated you better than their biological son. They gave you everything good.

"Even when Melissa was sick, she first thought about transferring the house and supermarket ownership to you. And if it weren't for them back then, you might have died...

"So I let go of it. After that, I suddenly felt that the whole world was different. That's when I realized that apart from self-redemption, no one else can help with one's suffering in this world."

Lina felt somewhat heavy-hearted. "Mom, do you think that Renee will find self-redemption if she returns to the company?"

"I'm not sure," Linda said softly. "But it's definitely better than her locking herself away."

"Okay, I understand." Lina smiled. "I'll make arrangements and find a time to talk to her."

At the same time, Renee arrived at the Thompson Group building. The towering structure blocked out the sunlight above her head. As she looked up, memories of the days she used to work late in the office with Lina flooded back, making her feel like it was a different lifetime.

'If Lena had not appeared, perhaps my mother's second personality would not have been triggered,' she thought.

Renee clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh.

Some people in the Thompson Group recognized her and respectfully addressed her.

When Lina's secretary saw her, she hurriedly came forward to explain, "Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Jenner have come today, and Ms. Lina is accompanying them for lunch!" "What?" Renee was surprised.

"Yes." The secretary smiled. "It's rare that they're in the mood today. I don't think Ms. Lina will be coming back today. Ms. Renee, would you like the driver to take you back?"

"No need," Renee replied. "I'll go upstairs for a cup of coffee and leave on my own. You don't have to follow me."

The secretary sensed an oddness in Renee's behavior but dismissed it, thinking it was normal for her to grab a coffee. The rooftop coffee bar was for the Thompson Group staff, and Renee used to frequent it during her time there.

The secretary respectfully nodded and let her be.

Renee's expression was somber as she wandered alone in the building. She had heard that Lena was working there, so she wanted to take a look.

She passed by the sales department and saw Lena following behind Jade like a diligent student.

Jade also seemed quite satisfied with her, constantly giving her instructions.

Renee felt like needles were prickling her heart. It was disconcerting.

Jade was a senior figure in the Thompson Group, consistently topping the sales charts for several years and making irreplaceable contributions to the company. The fact that Lina had Lena follow her clearly demonstrated the degree of importance Lina held for her.

Renee bit her lip. She was about to turn around and leave when she suddenly heard a high-pitched voice from behind. "Oh? Ms. Renee! What brings you here?"

Renee turned, meeting Jacquelin's captivating gaze.

Jacquelin's lips sported bold, striking colors, and her wavy hair flowed over a red and black two-tone suit skirt, adding to her feminine charm.

"You are..."

"Ms. Renee, you must've forgotten with how busy you are!" Jacquelin enthusiastically approached Renee. "I'm Jaquelin from the sales department. Have you forgotten?"

Chapter 1347

Chapter 1347

Renee nodded slightly and greeted her.

Jacquelin was sharp at observing people's expressions and could tell Renee had something on her mind. Following Renee's gaze, she noticed her looking in the direction of Jade and Lena.

Renee did not have many interactions with Jade, so the only possible reason for her attention was the person dressed in black.

Jacquelin chuckled softly. "Ms. Thompson, it's been a while since you've been to the company. Did you notice some significant changes when you came today?"

Renee hesitated, pretending not to understand.

Jacquelin persistently continued, raising her chin slightly. "Are you looking at her?"

Renee did not say anything, but Jacquelin noticed her fists clenching even tighter.

"Oh, Ms. Thompson, there's nothing special about Granny Harding! How about I treat you to coffee instead? Come on. Let's go upstairs now. There are a few new items..."

"What did you just say?" Renee was puzzled. "You called her..."

"Oh, Granny Harding? That's what we all call her! She always dresses in black and looks so stodgy, really annoying!"

Renee's tense expression eased a bit.

A barely perceptible smile tugged at the corner of Jacquelin's mouth. It seemed like what she had said had hit a nerve with Renee.

She wondered what the connection was between Renee and Lena.

While Jacquelin was pondering, Renee's soft voice sounded. "It's not nice to judge people based on appearances. She might have her own merits."

"Oh, really?" Jacquelin smiled awkwardly and kept her thoughts to herself.

She hooked arms with Renee and behaved even more enthusiastically than before. "Ms. Thompson, this coffee is on me! I really need to learn from you. When it comes to seeing others' strengths, I'm truly not as good as you!"

Renee smiled back at her.

The people in the sales department were adept at smooth talking and flattery-it was their way of making a living. Although Renee knew it was flattery, hearing it still felt quite gratifying.

With Jacquelin by her side, Renee went upstairs to the coffee shop.

"Ms. Thompson, do you know Lena?" Jacquelin handed her the mocha she just ordered.

Renee took a sip. It was not as bitter as coffee, but it was overly sweet. Sometimes, too much sweetness could discomfort one's taste buds.

"Ms. Thompson?"

"Oh..." Renee snapped out of her thoughts and calmly answered, "I don't."

Jacquelin was taken aback.

In reality, she did not know that Renee's statement of not knowing Lena was not a cover-up but a genuine wish that she had never known her.

However, Jacquelin's intuition told her there was definitely something between the two of them. It was just that this matter was likely deeply concealed, not something she could dig out in a short time. Jacquelin had already started forming strategies in her mind. No matter how she looked at it, Renee was a minor shareholder of the Thompson Group and the boss' niece. Apart from Lina, who in the entire company could have a stronger background than hers?

Even if Lena did enter the company through connections, her background could not possibly surpass Renee's-unless she was the boss' own daughter!

Jacquelin smiled and ordered a dessert for Renee, steering the conversation in a different direction.

As for Lena, her true identity would slowly come to light in the future. If Lena had a conflict with Renee, then Jacqueline would certainly side with Renee and assist her with advice and strategies! After finishing the coffee, Renee walked out of the building.

The mocha was already pretty sweet, and Jacquelin had also ordered dessert. It became overly sugary by the end, and she started feeling a little queasy.

The breeze outside was cooling, and she finally felt a bit better.

At that moment, her phone vibrated, displaying an unfamiliar number on the screen.

Chapter 1348

Chapter 1348

Renee hesitated for a moment and answered the call.

The voice on the other end introduced themselves directly, "Is this Renee Thompson? This is Centrolis Suburban Prison."

Renee's heart raced, and her legs suddenly felt weak.

"We need to confirm with you." The voice continued. "Your father is Melvin Thompson, is that correct?"

"Yes..."

"Melvin Thompson's execution date is the 14th of this month."

Renee took a sharp breath, staggering and leaning against a nearby tree.

"Ms. Renee Thompson, are you there?"

Renee took deep breaths, trying to remain calm. "Yes, I'm listening..."

"As per usual practice, a death row inmate is allowed to meet with family members before the execution. Melvin has expressed his desire to see you. The specific time is..."

It was as if millions of insects were buzzing loudly in Renee's ears. She hung up and started running along the street, hoping she could escape the mockery of fate by doing so.

However...

Renee ran all the way to the seaside, her mind filled with scenes of Melvin using her mother to blackmail her, forcing her to impersonate Pamela to claim the Thompsons' wealth. Melvin would beat, curse, humiliate, and threaten her when she refused to do those immoral things.

That was not her father-he was a demon.

Renee covered her ears and let out a scream. Her cries mixed with the sound of the waves, fading away in ripples similar to clouds in the sky.

The appointed time arrived quickly.

After much hesitation, Renee decided to go to the prison. She wore plain clothes with a light touch of makeup, looking to have a fragile sense of beauty.

Despite that, her gaze was as resolute as a dagger, and she wished she could plunge it into Melvin's heart when she saw him.

"Well, if it isn't my daughter?" Melvin opened his swollen eyes and grinned. His mouth barely had any teeth left.

The inmates knew what kind of person he was, especially considering Nicholas' comrades were also inside. Those inmates found opportunities to teach him a lesson every day. Even if Melvin had not been sentenced to death, his life in the prison was still worse than death.

Melvin came out in a wheelchair-one of his legs was already crippled, several fingers were broken, and his neck was constantly crooked. He could only look at people with a sidelong glance. When Renee saw him in this state, she was taken aback but calmed herself swiftly.

"Oh, my good daughter... It seems you're doing well now!"

Renee frowned. Even though reinforced glass was separating them, she involuntarily stepped back, her eyes filled with disgust and hatred.

Melvin's hoarse voice sounded as if it came from hell. "Renee, I'll be dead soon. Can you call me 'dad' one more time?"

Renee trembled all over, tightly biting her lip. She never wanted to have any connection with this demon again, yet his blood coursed within her.

Melvin stared at her intensely with a strange smile. "Renee, just say it. Call me... Come on..."

"No!"

Renee backed away abruptly, her expression fearful.

Melvin was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

"You stubborn, ungrateful brat!" he yelled hoarsely. "Do you think you're so noble? You think having Nicholas and Linda backing you up means you can abandon me as your father? "Hahaha! You're dreaming!

"Until you die... you're still my daughter! Hahaha! You won't have it easy even when I'm in hell!"

Chapter 1349

Chapter 1349

"No! No!" Renee seemed trapped in an endless nightmare, covering her ears and screaming in terror. She wanted to escape, but an invisible hand seemed to grip her tightly, throwing her into a quagmire from which there was no salvation.

"You worthless girl! Just like your mother, brainless trash! You had the chance to revel in endless glory and riches, but you insisted on giving it all away! Useless waste!"

"Shut up!" Renee lunged forward, pounding on the glass as if possessed. "You animal! It's all because of you! My mother... It's because of you she suffered and ended up with dissociative identity disorder... And now she's dead! Are you satisfied?!"

"What?" Melvin was surprised, then burst into increasingly loud laughter.

The prison guards had warned him multiple times, but it was futile. Thus, they eventually decided to push him back into his cell.

A female guard outside gently patted Renee's shoulder and guided her to sit down.

Just as Melvin was about to be pushed back through the iron door, he suddenly turned around, his eyes like an abyss from hell. "Heh! Renee, you are my daughter!

"Nicholas and Linda won't treat you well sincerely. One day, they'll abandon you, too!

"How about our family of three reuniting in hell? Hahaha!"

"Get lost!" Renee lost control of her emotions again, and it took two guards to restrain her.

The cold room fell silent, filled only with the sound of her sobbing breakdown, echoing in every corner.

After a while, someone escorted her out of there.

Outside, the sky was blue, and the sun was shining, yet she felt cold to her core as if plunged into an icy abyss from body to soul. Toph called her. Before she could even speak, his cheerful laughter came through the phone.

"Renee, guess what gift I've prepared for you?"

Renee forced a bitter smile and replied softly, "I don't know."

"Come on, take a guess. Alright, let me give you a hint..."

Renee's voice was feeble. "Toph, I don't want to guess."

"Okay." Toph chuckled. "Since you don't want to guess, I won't tell you I've prepared a litter of little kittens for you! Hahaha!"

Renee's heart clenched, and her hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

There was a time when she casually mentioned wanting to raise a kitten, and Toph had actually taken it to heart.

She cried abruptly, unable to even utter a word.

"Renee, you like kittens, don't you? A friend of mine has a litter of British Shorthair. They're incredibly adorable. I brought the whole litter with me!

"Pick your favorite. Let's raise them together, okay?

"Renee? Renee!" With no response for a while, Toph grew worried. "What's wrong?"

Renee sniffled, struggling to say that she was fine.

"Your voice doesn't sound right! Where are you? I'm coming over..."

"No need, Toph!" Renee fumbled for words, "I-I'm just a little touched. You've taken every word of mine to heart. You're the best person in this world to me." "Silly girl, what are you saying!" Toph chuckled. "You're my future wife. Shouldn't I treat you well?"

"Toph..."

"Alright, tell me where you are! I'm coming to pick you up and take you to my place to see the kittens!"

"It's really fine." Renee's heart warmed. "I'll go to your place myself."

After hanging up, she hurriedly headed to the Hamertons' residence.

Chapter 1350

Chapter 1350

Toph no longer needed crutches. The doctors had said it was due to his good physical foundation and his optimistic attitude.

Toph finally had something to boast about. He often patted his chest before his parents, Zuko, and Lina, saying, "You used to think I was just foolishly cheerful! How about now? A smile can make you ten years younger! A good mood is the magical cure for everything!"

In spite of it, Renee lost her smile after Kaitlyn's death, and Toph's laughter also diminished.

Renee arrived at the Hamerton's residence. Even though Toph had his place, Cordelia insisted he should not be alone due to his recent injury. He had to stay with them for the convenience of taking care of him.

Toph was sitting by the sofa with a litter of kittens on the coffee table, mewing cutely and melting everyone's hearts.

Worried that the kittens were too small to drink milk, Toph had prepared several small bottles and was carefully feeding them with the bottles. This delicate work was not exactly his forte. He was sweating profusely after just a short while.

When he noticed Renee standing there, he grinned and said, "Renee, come over here!"

Toph grinned as he used a soft cotton cloth to gently wipe the milk from around a kitten's mouth. "Look how adorable they are!"

Renee could not help but praise, "You're taking care of them so attentively."

"It's nothing." Toph chuckled. "They're still so small they need gentle treatment. By the way, which one do you like? If you like all of them, we can keep them all. My friend is quite generous!"

"Which friend?"

"You've probably met her. It's Uncle Josiah's daughter!"

Renee pondered for a moment. She seemed to remember meeting her at a gathering.

Josiah was close to Zephyr and Nicholas.

It was said that Josiah's wife had been in poor health, but their daughter was energetic. She was graceful at social events and well-liked by the elders.

"You..." Renee hesitated momentarily and asked, "Are you quite close to her?"

"Hmm?" Toph blinked in confusion. "Well, we get along okay. We've known each other since we were kids... Heh! What wild ideas are you coming up with now?"

Renee looked down and fell silent. She cradled a little kitten in her arms, gently stroking its fur. The soft and fuzzy sensation gradually dissipated the darkness in her heart.

"Don't worry." Toph wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "We Hamerton men have a discerning eye. We can distinguish between the good and the bad! You don't have to feel so insecure. Since I've chosen you, I won't change."

"Mm."

Toph's eyes were so clear that Renee felt as if she could not meet it for a moment.

He was pure, while she could only follow Melvin into hell.

Renee shivered, and she heard Toph calling out to her, "Renee, let go!"

Startled, she realized she had been clutching the kitten's neck too tightly. The little creature was struggling, and she had almost accidentally killed it. "Renee, you..."

"I'm sorry." Renee felt guilty. "Is it okay?"

Toph did not have time to answer as he hurriedly checked on the kitten. After a while, the kitten seemed to recover from the scare, but it was trembling.

"I'm sorry, Toph," Renee said softly. "I... It's my first time holding a kitten. I don't have experience, and I used too much strength." Toph glanced at her.

That was not just using a bit too much strength-she had nearly taken the kitten's life.

He looked at her. "Are you... still in a bad mood? I want to make you happy, but it seems my methods aren't quite effective...

"What can I do to make you happy?"

Renee stared at him, filled with mixed emotions.

After a brief silence, she suddenly asked, "Toph, will we get married?"

"Hmm?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to make me happy?" She gently held his hand as if grasping onto a lifeline. "If we could get married smoothly, I'd be really happy."