Ch. 1381..1390

Chapter 1381

Chapter 1381

"Renee, calm down." Cordelia's voice was gentle. "With so many guests at home today, it's not appropriate to involve the police. Don't you worry. I'll definitely find the ring." "You're not pursuing this anymore?"

"Why?" Cordelia looked at her cryptically. "Don't you believe that I can help you find it?"

"It's not that..." Renee paused. "I have a suspect."

This sentence played right into Cordelia's hands. She pretended not to understand, furrowing her eyebrow and softly asking, "You have a suspect? Who is it?"

"Aunt Cordelia, the person who last accompanied me to the restroom was Lena."

"Oh?"

Before Cordelia could utter a word, Chris approached while holding Lena's hand.

Lena held the same handbag as Renee's.

"No need for suspicion," Lena stated with her usual calm expression, standing before the group. She retrieved the ring from her bag and met everyone's eyes with unwavering confidence. "It's right here, in my bag."

Everyone was surprised.

"But I did not take it!"

"Didn't you?" Renee sneered. "That bag in your hand belongs to me, as does the ring. You were the one who walked with me to the restroom. Are you claiming none of this is your doing?"

Lena glanced at Renee, her eyes harboring a brewing storm.

Renee spoke slowly. "Lena, I understand there might have been some confusion between us, but... I've always hoped to mend our relationship. I don't think you took these things on purpose. If you like the bag you can keep it. But could you please return the ring? It's my engagement ring with Toph, and I..."

Renee's voice quivered, and tears welled in her eyes.

Toph gently patted her shoulder, a little flustered. Meanwhile, the guests started to look suspiciously at Lena, whispering amongst themselves.

Zephyr and Cordelia gradually looked grimmer. Zuko and Lina exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

"Renee, please refrain from making baseless accusations!" Chris stepped forward. "Lena-"

"Lena wouldn't take your ring." A clear voice suddenly came from the crowd.

Lena was a bit surprised. She noticed Arya quickly making her way through the crowd to reach them. Arya gave a polite nod to Cordelia and Zephyr, then shifted her gaze to Renee and Toph. "Renee, I assure you that Lena didn't take your ring, and she didn't steal your bag either. The bag she's holding doesn't belong to you."

Renee frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I gave her this bag." Arya smiled. "I thought it looked good on her with this outfit, so I gave it to her."

"You..."

"If you don't believe it, you can take a look inside."

Arya took the pearl bag from Lena and pulled the inner layer out. There was an embroidery of the name "Arya Bayer" on the divider.

"Bags of this brand are all unique. Once you buy one, the artisans will embroider your name on it." Arya then asked, "Renee, don't you also have the same bag? Wasn't it a gift from Lina? Didn't Lina tell you that your name is embroidered on the inner layer?"

Renee paled with her lips trembling slightly.

As always, Toph was oblivious as ever and smiled with relief. "That's fantastic! The ring has been found, and I can finally relax!"

Renee glared at him.

"Even if you gave this bag to Lena..." She looked at Arya and then at Lena. "It doesn't prove that she didn't take the ring!"

Chapter 1382

Chapter 1382

Lena sneered at Renee, but Arya took the question seriously.

Chris held Lena's hand, ready to depart. As he walked past Arya, he whispered, "Are you really starting to figure things out now? She's obviously settling old and new grudges! Our Lenny doesn't need to suffer any more injustice here!"

Arya halted them both by grabbing their hands and smiling innocently at the group. "Wait, don't go! We don't know how the ring ended up in this bag. Let's just put it on me!"

"What?" Renee was greatly surprised.

Lena was equally shocked and about to defend Arya, but the latter stepped before her.

"Consider it my mistake!" Arya chuckled. "Renee, I'm truly sorry. I found this ring and meant to return it to you, but then I forgot and gave the bag to Lena... It's all a misunderstanding. I hope you can forgive me!"

Renee's eyes widened in shock, finding it hard to believe.

Arya smiled casually, and the other guests, showing respect for her as the Bayer heiress, refrained from commenting.

Even Toph chuckled. "Since it's a misunderstanding, let's just leave it at that. Arya, be more careful next time!"

Cordelia looked at the group of kids and said, "Alright. Now that the ring has been found, you should enjoy yourselves. Don't let this spoil the good mood!" Everyone yelled in unison, "Yes, ma'am!"

"Hey!" Zephyr protested. "That's my line. Switch it up!"

Peals of laughter echoed among the crowd. The birthday party returned to its lively atmosphere as if nothing had happened.

Renee stood still, her face tense and her hands trembling as they gripped her dress's edge. Arya unexpectedly calmed the commotion with just a few words!

"Renee?" Toph wanted to wear the ring back on her finger, but she forcefully pushed his hand away. "Renee... what's wrong?"

"You're asking me what's wrong?" Renee glared at him. "My ring was stolen, and no one stood up for me! Even you..."

"But the ring has been found, hasn't it? Besides, that bag isn't yours. It's Arya's..."

"Toph!" Renee shouted hysterically, attracting the attention of those around them.

Toph stood before her with his head down like an elementary school student who was scolded. The verdant brilliance of the ring seemed to have dimmed considerably as well.

Arya stopped beside Toph and smiled at Renee. "Renee, since it's Aunt Cordelia's birthday today, I think it's better to let things go. The ring has been found, and I believe that nobody would intentionally steal a treasured heirloom of the Hamertons. Unless... it's a thief crying thief!"

"What are you saying?!"

"I'm not saying it's you." Arya was calm, exuding an air of regal composure. She approached Renee, lowering her voice. "Renee, you probably don't know why this limited edition pearl bag is so special, do you?"

Renee glanced at her.

"There's a pearl on the strap of this bag that's actually a surveillance device that monitors everything happening outside and transmits it to the cloud.

"Because wealthy heiresses or princesses in the world are afraid of being kidnapped. With this bag, everything that happens outside can be seen in the cloud. If someone attacks them head-on, the police will have them tied up within five minutes."

Renee turned pale.

"So, do you think everything that happened in the restroom has already been transmitted to the cloud?"

"You..." Renee took a few steps back, her heart pounding in her throat.

Arya added with a smile, "Renee, I believe you'll be grateful that I'm letting things go, won't you?"

Arya had left for quite some time, but Renee remained standing in place, her legs feeling weak. She had to lean on the table to remain steady.

Toph, concerned, tried to support her. However, she rejected him every time he touched her, pushing him away forcefully.

Not far away, Lena and Chris watched silently with mixed emotions.

Chris asked Arya, "Is what you said earlier true?"

"What?"

"About the bag..."

Arya almost spewed out the champagne she was drinking.

"It's not true."

"Huh?"

"How could a perfectly fine bag have some sort of surveillance device?" Arya beamed. "Those were plots from my comics!" Chris and Lena widened their eyes at her.

"I said those things to bluff her!" Arya shrugged. "If she wasn't guilty, why would she show that expression?"

Lena was momentarily stunned before she laughed.

"But... the truth is out now." Arya looked at Lena and asked softly, "Are you going to hold a grudge against Renee?"

Lena saw the worry in her eyes. She was not worried about anyone else, just about Lina. After all, Renee was Lina's cousin. Arya did not want them to fall out over this matter.

The key to this issue was still Lena.

"Lena, I know I shouldn't advise others to be magnanimous..." Arya scratched her head a little embarrassedly. "But I'd still like to ask you to be more generous and not make things difficult for Lina." Arya's innocence made her look like a little daisy with no bad bone in her.

Lena smiled. She thought the same way-not to make things difficult for Lina. Even when she felt deeply wronged by Renee, she was willing to let things go.

She patted Arya's shoulder. "Don't worry."

"Lena..."

"I won't hold it against Renee." Lena said calmly, "Besides, I've already moved out of the Thompsons. I'm not homeless. I won't see her much in the future, so there's no need to dwell on it." Chris perked up as he heard that. He slipped an arm around Lena's waist, his lips uncontrollable.

Arya understood and smiled at them before going away to give them a moment alone.

Chris lowered his head slightly, his forehead brushing against the tip of Lena's nose. He felt the urge to kiss Lena, but her hand pressed against his chest, forcing him to swallow the impulse.

Meanwhile, Renee was still grappling with the recent events when a Hamerton butler approached her politely and smiled, saying, "Ms. Renee, Madam wishes to see you in her flower room. Please follow me."

Chapter 1383

Chapter 1383

Renee felt a bit anxious and wanted to take Toph with her. But suddenly, Zuko appeared from nowhere and beat her to it. He grabbed Toph's arm and turned him away from Renee. "Toph-"

"Toph!" Zuko's voice drowned her out. "Uncle Frederic and Aunt Trinity are here too. We should go and greet them!"

Toph readily agreed, completely oblivious to Renee's increasingly dark expression behind him.

The butler smiled. "Ms. Renee, please come this way."

"Can we wait a moment?"

"Are you waiting for Mr. Toph?" The butler remained composed. "I know Madam well. She never includes others when she wishes to have tea with someone."

Renee froze and slowly released her grip on her dress, forced to follow the butler.

Cordelia's flower room was situated in a corner of Zen Residence-an all-glass structure that sparkled like a radiant pearl in the night. There were various exotic plants and flowers inside, trying to outshine each other.

Cordelia was seated on a sofa, sipping tea, and a delicate pastry sat on the table.

Renee knocked on the door and entered, keeping her head low.

Cordelia looked at her with a smile. "Renee, come and have a seat."

Renee nodded, forcing a smile. Sitting beside Cordelia, she felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles-even her breath was bated.

"Try this tea." Cordelia poured a cup for her. "See if it's any different from what you usually have."

Renee hesitated and looked up at Cordelia.

Cordelia smiled warmly, but Renee detected an iciness beneath her smile.

"Aunt Cordelia, I—"

"Come on, just give it a try." Cordelia placed the teacup in her hand.

The water temperature was just right, and the tea had a nice faint color. Renee was not well-versed in tea, and a sense of inferiority inexplicably welled up within her.

She suddenly wondered what Lina would do if she were in her place.

Lina knew nothing about tea either. She had grown up with Jesse and Melissa, so her knowledge was limited. However, she never hesitated to admit when she did not know something. She never cared about what others thought, which was quite similar to Lena.

Thinking of Lena, Renee clenched her fingers slightly.

"Why aren't you drinking?" Cordelia chuckled. "Renee, you weren't this reserved when you used to visit."

Renee pursed her lips. She picked up the teacup and took a sip. The aroma of the tea lingered in her mouth.

"How does it taste?" Cordelia asked with a smile.

Renee put the teacup down. "It's nice."

"What's different about it?"

"Well..."

Cordelia smiled gently, no longer pressing her. "The tea leaves themselves aren't anything special. The key is the water. There's a lotus pond behind Splendor Mountain, and the water used to brew this tea is dew collected from the lotus leaves."

Renee nodded but did not understand the implication.

Cordelia looked at her. "Renee, dew is clean, so when it's used to brew tea, it's very refreshing to drink.

"In fact, being a person is similar.

"If your heart is clean, your life, like this cup of tea, will naturally be invigorating. You'll drink comfortably throughout your life. Do you think this makes sense?"

Renee looked up abruptly, meeting Cordelia's cryptic gaze.

"Aunt Cordelia, you..."

"I believe you're a good child, so I won't spell it out." Cordelia put a hand over Renee's and spoke seriously. "Whatever you've done, you know it yourself. This is the first time, and I hope it's the last!" Renee's heart raced, and every nerve in her body tensed. A chill crept up from the depths of her heart.

Chapter 1384

Chapter 1384

Cordelia understood everything, and nothing could escape her notice.

"This time, you should thank Arya." Cordelia spoke softly. "If it weren't for her timely intervention, it'd be hard to put an end to the situation should it escalate."

"Is that so? Thank her?" Renee sneered. "Aunt Cordelia, you heard what she said, right? She claimed she mistakenly took my ring and put it in her own bag, only to forget about it. Why did you all buy what she said just because she's the Bayer heiress? Why didn't you consider the possibility that she and Lena conspired to stage this whole drama?"

Cordelia was somewhat surprised. She had been under the impression her earlier hint was enough but did not expect Renee to be so inflexible.

In retrospect, it seemed that Renee had placed all her resentment for losing her mother on Lena. She believed that Lena had triggered Kaitlyn's second personality, that Lena had driven Kaitlyn to jump off the cliff.

In other words, Lena had indirectly killed her mother!

Cordelia frowned. She could understand the deep mother-daughter bond between Renee and Kaitlyn. After all, she had experienced that kind of bond formed through reliance and enduring hardships with her own mother as well.

However, to say that Lena had forced Kaitlyn to her death was going too far. It might be more accurate to say that Kaitlyn's death had brought relief to her.

"Renee, you can't randomly blame others." Cordelia tried to counsel her. "We're all doing this for your own good, hoping that you can be as happy as you were before—"

"Aunt Cordelia!" Renee suddenly raised her voice. "If this had happened to me today, if I had taken someone else's ring, would you have reported it to the police?" "What are you saying?"

"In the end, it's just because Arya is the Bayers' daughter that you believe what she said. And because I have nothing, everything I say is wrong!"

"Renee!" Cordelia was serious as she looked coldly at her.

Renee realized her mistake and dared not say more. She sat quietly, head lowered, and that sense of inferiority began to creep back.

It was eerily quiet around them, so quiet that she could clearly hear her heartbeat.

Cordelia sighed, thinking of her son and of the orphaned girl before her. She struggled to suppress her anger. Life was not just black and white.

"Aunt Cordelia, don't... be angry." After a long silence, Renee cautiously apologized, "I'm sorry, I know I was wrong... I shouldn't have done this or said those things. But Aunt Cordelia, I... I just feel so insecure.' Her voice choked up, and tears fell.

"Aunt Cordelia, I have nothing now. I only have Toph left. I'm really scared..."

"Still, Lena didn't cause it." Cordelia shook her head. "Your insecurity isn't caused by Arya either.

"Renee, this can't be resolved by anyone else but you. You have to do it yourself. Toph isn't someone who will abandon you halfway. You should believe in him!"

"Yes, yes!" Renee hurriedly agreed, "I've always believed in him, and he has always been good to me!"

"Then why do you keep stirring up trouble every few days? What is the point?"

"I... I..." Renee could not come up with an answer.

In fact, even she did not know why she was doing that.

She had depended on others for too long, to the point where she seemed to have forgotten who she was. When Kaitlyn was alive, she still had a mother even though she was weak from illness and could not care for her properly.

She was a complete orphan now, all alone in this world.

Her father had plotted against Nicholas, and her mother had harmed many people. Their whole family had wronged Lina, Lena, and even the people currently welcoming her with open arms.

The more this happened, the heavier her sense of inferiority grew.

She owed others so much that she could not repay it in this lifetime or the next.

Great favor bred great resentment might just be the truth. Since she could not repay this kindness, she might as well drag the whole world down with her!

Chapter 1385

Chapter 1385

"Renee, listen to me." Cordelia held onto the last glimmer of hope. "The past is already in the past. If you keep digging into it, you'll only become more miserable. And if Toph sees you suffering, do you think he'll feel any better?"

"Aunt Cordelia..."

"I'll arrange the best psychologist for you." Cordelia gently stroked Renee's hair. "You're just unwell, and I believe you will get better."

Renee remained silent, the darkness in her eyes deepening.

The butler lightly knocked on the door and walked over to hand Le Fari to Cordelia.

Renee stiffened. When Toph tried to put the ring on her earlier, she pushed him away. She realized she had acted impulsively. This time, she decided to take the initiative and get the ring back. "Aunt Cordelia, this..."

"There's no rush." Cordelia put up a hand with a gentle but firm gesture. She signaled to the butler, who immediately brought a jewelry box over.

After Cordelia placed the ring inside, the butler locked the box.

"Toph mentioned that the ring was too big for you." Cordelia chuckled. "I'll have the craftsman adjust it to fit you properly. We can't have people saying that the Hamertons don't even have a properly fitting ring.' "Aunt Cordelia, it's really not a big deal!" Renee hurriedly protested, "I can take care of the resizing myself..."

"Let me handle it." Cordelia looked at her as though she could see through her very soul. "Renee, I'll keep the ring safe for the time being. After all, it's an heirloom of the Hamertons. If it gets lost again, none of us will be able to bear the responsibility."

"No, it won't happen again! Absolutely not!"

"We can't be too sure." Cordelia got up and took her hand with a smile. "Your marriage to Toph is postponed anyway. There's no rush to wait a little longer. Once the ring is resized and you're all better... I'II have Toph wear it for you himself!"

Renee bit her lip without saying anything.

"It's my birthday today, and I can't keep the guests waiting for too long." Cordelia looked at Renee. "Accompany me to the hall."

"Alright." Renee softly agreed, linking her arm with Cordelia's and slowly walking out of the flower room. Before leaving, she glanced at the box in the butler's hand. It felt like a thorn had lodged in her heart. With the wedding date uncertain and now the ring gone, her insecurity was only growing stronger. Renee looked at Cordelia resentfully. The knot in her heart seemed to tighten a little more.

For several days, Toph had been moody. Even when gaming with Chris, he would play a couple of rounds and stop. He would then sit alone on the couch, looking at his phone-sometimes distressed, sometimes elated.

Chris took off his headphones, retrieved two cans of beer from the fridge, and patted Toph on the shoulder. "Having an identity crisis?"

"Get lost!" Toph grinned like a simpleton.

Chris frowned. "You've been acting strange for days... What happened?"

"Renee finally replied to my messages!"

Toph showed his phone to Chris.

As Chris looked at the messages, he sensed something odd.

Lately, Renee has been responding minimally to Toph's messages. When she did reply, it would often be after he had sent several texts in a row. Her responses were usually quite vague, often just saying, [Hmm, okay.]

Despite that, Toph's mood would immediately lift whenever she did reply. If she ignored him, he would be like that, absentminded even when playing a game.

Chris returned the phone, his tone serious. "Do you think your way of interacting is normal?"

Toph's expression dimmed, and after a long silence, he muttered under his breath, "No, it's not."

"If it's not normal, then why do you indulge her?" Chris did not like seeing his cousin being treated unfairly. "From your chat history, it seems like every time you send a bunch of messages and are about to give up, she suddenly replies with one message, and you're filled with hope!"

Toph looked at Chris in a daze.

"Toph, I think she's not as simple as we think." Chris took a sip of his beer. "Back in the military, we learned about psychological warfare. I think she's pretty adept at it. Keeping you hanging but not completely ignoring you, always giving you a glimmer of hope and stringing you along!"

"D-Don't assume things!" Toph gave him a sideways glance. "Renee is not that kind of person!"

"Toph, can you be a bit more mature? Have you not analyzed the things she's been saying to you?" Toph lowered his gaze and said nothing.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about it or didn't understand. He simply had an optimistic nature and didn't like to think negatively, especially when it came to someone he loved deeply and wanted to keep loving.

He believed Renee was going through a temporary rough patch. Like his mother had said, she was just not feeling well and would improve.

As long as he gave his love unconditionally, treated her with all his heart, and stood by her to take care of her, she would eventually sense it, wouldn't she?

Chris sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "To put it harshly, I think... she's manipulating your emotions. But these things are often hard for those involved to see!"

"Enough, stop talking!" Toph was agitated. "Chris, you don't know her. She was very kind in the past!"

"But people change. I just don't want you to get hurt." Chris looked at him. "Toph, you've been very well sheltered, and all you see are the good things in life. You can't see how wicked people can be!" "I said stop!" Toph sprang up.

Chris's words were harsh, cutting through Toph's numb emotions like a sharp knife. He understood that Chris meant well, but it left him struggling for breath under the pressure.

After a long silence, Chris finally broke it by giving Toph's back a gentle pat, accompanied by a deep sigh.

The ringing of a phone call shattered the tension in the room.

Chris reached for the phone and noticed Lena was calling. He hesitated, surprised since she should have been at work by now.

"Hello, Lenny."

"Chris!" Lena sounded quite excited. "Hurry, come to the hospital! Right now!"

"What happened?" Chris' heart dropped, his mind flashing with the picture of Lena beating someone up for some reason. "Y-You didn't get into a fight selling houses, did you?"

Chapter 1386

Chapter 1386

"What are you talking about?" Lena laughed after a moment of pause.

Chris and Toph arrived at the hospital to find Lina half-leaning against the bedside. Zuko looked tense, but his joy was evident in his smile. Nicholas, Linda, Zephyr, Cordelia, Jesse, and Melissa were all present.

Even Dave, who hardly ever skipped any classes, had skipped a very important class today.

Everyone was filled with happy smiles.

Toph was momentarily stunned, looking around. "W-What's going on?"

"Come over here, Toph!" Cordelia waved to him. "You're going to be an uncle!"

"What?" Toph was both surprised and delighted.

Zuko handed him a test report—he had clutched it like a treasure for quite a while before Toph came to the hospital.

There was an ultrasound image on it, but Toph could not make out what it was even after staring at it for a while. Below the image were various professional terms that he did not understand either. What he did understand was the last few words-Pregnant, 6 weeks.

Lena walked in, having just returned from the Thompsons' place to fetch Lina a pair of soft, flat shoes.

Lina smiled apologetically. "It's just a small thing, yet it alarmed all of you."

"This isn't a small thing!" Linda and Cordelia chimed in together. "This is a momentous occasion!"

"Exactly!" Toph patted his big brother's shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up. "Well done! You're about to level up! When my little nephew is born, he has to learn to call me Uncle Toph first!" Zuko was speechless. He glanced at his father and smiled. "Well... maybe it's going to be a niece!"

"No, no, no. It's definitely going to be a nephew!" Toph laughed carelessly. "I'll train my little nephew to play games, and we'll win all the games together in the futur― Mmph!" Zuko quickly covered his mouth. Actually, he really hoped for a cute little girl too!

"Toph!" He gritted his teeth. "Can you speak less?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Chris quietly approached Lena and held her hand.

Lena looked at him, her usually aloof gaze revealing rare tenderness. She wore a light pink top and a white skirt today. Her natural beauty shone without needing any emphasis.

"Lenny..." Chris was captivated and leaned closer to say something, but she suddenly rushed over to Lina.

Chris had not figured out what was happening yet when he saw Lena place an additional cushion behind Lina, making her more comfortable.

Chris glanced at Zuko helplessly. "Whose wife exactly is Pammy?"

"Huh?" Zuko was perplexed.

Chris rolled his eyes. "Take care of your own wife!"

Cordelia and Linda exchanged looks and chuckled. "Chris, we're lucky to have Lena today."

"What happened?"

Cordelia said, "Pammy wasn't feeling well at work today. Luckily, Lena passed by her office and noticed, so she went upstairs to check on her occasionally. When she saw that Pammy wasn't looking good, she immediately brought her to the hospital!"

"No wonder!" Chris laughed. "Lenny called me, asking me to rush to the hospital. I thought something big had happened. Turns out it wasn't her, but Pammy's good news!"

Renee knocked on the door and came in as well. As soon as she saw Lina, she smiled and congratulated her, giving her a big hug.

Toph approached Renee, but she gave him the cold shoulder.

Chapter 1387

Chapter 1387

Cordelia's gaze darkened instantly. Zephyr patted her shoulder and gave her a subtle glance.

"Your mom didn't sleep well last night, so I'm taking her back to rest first," Zephyr said softly. "Zuko, take care of Pammy."

"Don't worry!"

"Nicholas, Linda, join us?" Zephyr smiled. "It's been a while since we've all gathered. Let's go to my place for a drink!"

Nicholas and Linda readily agreed.

Melissa gave Lina advice for quite some time before Jesse and Dave pulled her away. When leaving, she looked back with lingering worry.

"Mom, I'm fine." Lina smiled. "You and dad, though, need to take good care of yourselves. After all, you'll have to help me take care of the baby in the future!"

"Of course, of course!" Melissa regained her vigor.

In reality, she hoped Lina would have more children. Having experienced the pains of childbirth herself, however, she did not want her daughter to go through it again, so it was a bit of a dilemma... Now that most people had left, the room fell quiet again.

Zuko and Lina exchanged smiles. He touched her yet-to-show baby bump as if he could feel the growing life inside. He felt a sudden urge to tear up.

"Hey, bro, isn't it a bit early to cry now?" Toph teased him. "You'll have plenty of time for tears when my nephew's born!"

"What are you saying?!" Zuko looked at him disdainfully.

"Didn't dad say you nearly made him cry when you were just born? And when you first learned to walk, you sat on his face and gave him a—" "Toph! Get out of here!"

"Hahaha!"

Laughter once again filled the room.

However, Lena quietly left the room. She looked aloof, different from the busy and engaged person she had been earlier.

Chris followed her, staying by her side until they reached the end of the corridor.

"Lenny, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Lena smiled, but her eyes seemed a bit red.

Chris hugged her with concern. He knew she was happy for Lina, but she did not know how to express it. Just like earlier, while everyone in the room was chattering and celebrating, she remained silent, busying herself for Lina.

When Lina did not need her, she quietly stepped aside. When Lina needed her, she was willing to go to any length to help.

Sometimes, Chris found this rather perplexing.

He smiled, patted her back, and said softly, "If you don't go in, Renee might think you're scared of her."

"What?"

"Aren't you coming out because she's in there?"

Lena lowered her head slightly. She had to admit that Chris was pretty accurate in reading people.

She avoided Renee now whenever possible, but it was not because she was scared.

"Chris, I'm not scared of her," Lena said in a low voice. "Lina is pregnant now. I'll stay away from Renee as much as I can. I don't want Lina to worry about us while she's pregnant. She should rest well now so she can give birth to a healthy baby."

"You're quite silly." Chris lightly knocked her forehead. "Do you think avoiding her can solve all the problems?"

Lena looked at him in silence.

"Let me ask you." Chris' voice turned serious. "If you're on a battlefield and you're avoiding the enemy, does that mean they won't try to kill you?"

Chapter 1388

Chapter 1388

Lena was taken aback. She could not come up with an answer to the question, nor could she respond well.

"Chris... Renee isn't my enemy."

"You're the one who isn't treating her like one!" Chris sighed in exasperation. "But what about her? She despises you to the core. She not only sees you as an enemy but as a nemesis!" Lena's fists clenched tightly at her side.

"I'm not trying to stir up trouble between you." Chris held her shoulders. "I'm just using my military experience to tell you that mutual sacrifices happen frequently on the battlefield. A bullet won't change its course because you're retreating, and an enemy won't spare you just because you're stepping back!

"Your retreat will only make her more overbearing! Just because Pammy is in the middle doesn't mean you should be hesitant!"

Lena was stunned. Chris' words struck a chord and made her see the depth of his concern.

After a long silence, she smiled, her cheeks blushing like peach petals.

Chris was entranced, as if her smile lit up the whole world. "Lenny, I—"

"Let's go help Lina with her discharge procedures first," Lena interrupted with a smile.

"Oh."

"She's only a little over a month pregnant, and she's been a bit exhausted lately. The doctor said she needs to finish the nutrient drip before going home." "Mm..."

"After we're done with the paperwork, let's go in together!"

"Oh, sure..." Chris' eyes lit up suddenly. "What did you say?"

"I said, let's go in together, help Lina tidy up, and then take them home!"

Chris seemed a bit dazed for a moment, not immediately grasping the context.

Lena gently held his hand and told him, "I'll listen to you."

The hospital room was now occupied only by the members of The Happy Four. Yet, the atmosphere could not revert to how it used to be.

Lina glanced at her phone discreetly. The Happy Four group chat had been silent for a while. The term "happy" seemed no longer fitting for them.

"Renee, Toph." She smiled gently. "You both can go back if you want. Having Zuko here is enough."

Toph was about to agree, but Renee sat there motionless. She asked softly, "Lina, maybe I should stay with you. Zuko is a man and might not have the fullest consideration..." "I'm her husband. How could I overlook things?" Zuko smiled faintly. "Renee, do you have something to tell her?"

Renee's expression faltered, her gaze somewhat evasive.

"Nothing important," she said after a moment. "I just feel that since Lina's pregnant now, she shouldn't strain herself too much. But with so much to handle at the company, I thought..." "You don't need to worry about that." Zuko stood beside Lina, one hand on her shoulder. He smiled at Renee. "I'm a member of the Thompsons now, so helping with family matters is only natural." Renee frowned, Zuko's words hitting her like a retort.

At that moment, Lena and Chris entered. Zuko turned toward them. "By the way, Lena, Pammy is pregnant now, and there are many things she can't personally handle. Please keep an eye on the company matters for her, okay?"

Lena nodded seriously.

"You're a grassroots employee." Zuko's tone was low. "And your perspective on things differs from ours. To have a promising future, a corporation must consider various opinions and look at problems from different angles."

Renee's mood soured. However, Lina seemed to agree with Zuko as she smiled without a word.

Toph had no interest in these matters, let alone advocating for her. Renee just felt like a heavy stone was lodged in her chest.

Chapter 1389

Chapter 1389

Suddenly, Renee remembered what Melvin had said to her before his execution.

"Such a good opportunity to impersonate Pamela and gain the Thompson Group, but you didn't want it! You're as foolish as your mother! You both wretched women!" Renee's head throbbed abruptly, and she trembled slightly.

"Renee?" Toph looked at her with concern. "Are you feeling unwell?"

His hand had not reached her when she moved away.

Toph's hand hung awkwardly in the air, a bit embarrassed. It felt like a needle had pricked him, and a drop of blood seeped. "Renee "

Before he could form his sentence, there was a knock on the door. Even before the person entered, their sweet voice could be heard.

"I hope I'm not late for such a happy occasion?"

Arya walked in with a gift, heading straight for Lina as soon as she entered the room.

Lina was pleasantly surprised. "Why did you come too?"

"Zuko told me!" Arya's eyes curved with a smile. "He's so eager to announce to the world with a megaphone that he's going to be a father!"

Zuko cleared his throat twice. He could barely keep his cool and composed image.

Lina was amused. She did not see anything wrong with Zuko and Arya texting privately. However, Renee's expression turned sour when Toph talked to Arya for a bit.

A person with an open heart naturally would not think negatively of others. However...

Renee rose to her feet, her eyes carrying a touch of coldness. She scanned the room, particularly focusing on Arya as she approached Toph. Her fists tightened, nails digging into her skin.

"Hi, Toph!" Arya initiated a work-related conversation. "About the drafts you sent earlier, the plot looks promising. However, the character design requires further attention. Specifically, the male lead's attire needs more elegance."

Toph listened attentively, visualizing the changes in his mind.

"Your male lead is a foreign prince." Arya continued. "So, when you draw him, you should incorporate foreign elements. I've marked my suggestions on the drafts and sent them to your email. Take a look when you get the chance!"

"Sure!" Toph smiled sincerely, nodding in agreement.

Renee looked at him, puzzled. "You... You're drawing?" Toph froze.

Arya could tell what was happening by looking at their faces. It seemed that Toph, who was known for being careless, hadn't talked to Renee about it.

Although she did not hold any favorable impression of Renee, she still respected her as Toph's fiancee and thought she needed to treat her respectfully.

Arya politely smiled. "Well, he sent me a few drafts last time, along with the plot. I thought they were quite good. Toph's drawing style aligns well with the fine art style comics. If he works on it well, he might become a rising star in the comic industry!"

But Renee completely ignored Arya. Her gaze was solely locked on Toph. She spoke slowly and clearly, asking him, "How come I had no idea you were drawing comics?"

Toph hurried to explain, "I... I did tell you..."

"You didn't!"

"I really did!"

Toph showed her his phone.

He had sent her dozens of messages in a day, but she would only reply with a few words.

One of those messages was: [Renee, I sent a few drafts to Arya for her evaluation. I want to venture into the comic world, too. If luck is on my side, it might even be adapted into a mobile game. That way, I can make a name for myself! Renee, do you support me?"

Renee's hands were trembling. She hadn't paid any attention to the messages he had sent her, causing her to miss this specific one.

Chapter 1390

Chapter 1390

"Uh, well..." Arya felt sweat forming on her forehead, thinking she had caused trouble. "Why don't all of you visit my studio once Pammy's pregnancy stabilizes?" The awkward atmosphere didn't dissipate. Arya flushed in embarrassment. Besides comics and games, she really did not know much else.

Lina sensed her discomfort and smiled. "Arya, I suddenly have a craving for milk tea. Could you help me get a cup?"

It felt like amnesty was granted to Arya as she glanced at Lina gratefully, then hurriedly rushed out of the room.

Toph lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Renee knew she was in the wrong but did not say anything and hastily walked out of the room.

"Renee!" Toph was taken aback. Even when he called her, there was no response. He quickly followed after her.

Zuko did not manage to stop him in time.

Lina tugged at his hand, both of them helpless.

"Forget it. Let them handle it themselves." Zuko sighed lightly. "Toph needs to grow up too."

"Honey..."

"I know. You still hold onto a glimmer of hope for Renee and even feel a bit guilty." Zuko looked into her eyes. "But the current Renee has changed. She's... Melvin's daughter, after all." "What do you mean by that?" Lena's guard was up immediately. "Are you saying that Renee might harm Lina?"

Chris nudged her with his elbow, jealous inwardly but trying to dissuade her from getting too worked up.

"I'm not sure." Zuko's gaze slightly darkened. "But..."

He glanced at Lina and said, "I'm sorry. I secretly investigated Renee. I admit I'm a bit selfish, as my motivation was for the Hamertons' sake. However, I did discover something." "What did you find out?"

"Before Melvin was executed, Renee met with him."

Lina froze, her heart pounding.

"Doesn't Renee hate him? How could she possibly meet with him?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you." Zuko held her hand. "Renee is not the same as she used to be. Since she witnessed her mother's suicide, she's been unable to untangle that knot in her heart. First, she blamed her mother's death on Lena, and now she wants to control Toph...

"Honey, for the sake of the Hamertons and for you, I can't afford to let my emotions guide me. I want to tell you that if she makes any move, I'll fight back without any hesitation. She can't beat me!"

"Zuko..."

The Hamertons were well-known for their strong sense of family values among the four major families. Whoever dared to harm their family was like poking a hornet's nest-their fate would be dire. It was just that Renee was different...

Lina took a deep breath, feeling her temples throb. She leaned against Zuko's chest, listening to the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat, and wearily closed her eyes.

"Don't worry, Zuko!" Lena affirmed with determination. "I share the same thoughts as you. Anyone who dares to harm Lina, I'll fight them to the end whether they're a cousin or not!"

"Rest assured, Zuko." Chris chuckled. "With our Lenny here, Pammy will definitely be safe! But I think you should be more concerned about Toph right now. He is still quite childish in his ways and might not handle this change well."