Ch. 1421..1430

Chapter 1421

Chapter 1421

Kasey glanced downward. She didn't appear extraordinary to Elijah. Instead, she harbored only grievances and discontent.

Unknown to Jacquelin, Zuko had noticed her taking photos and discreetly signaled his bodyguards to remove her. But before any of this could unfold, Kasey made a "heroic" move of her own. Zuko smiled at the couple and turned to leave. Lena followed him.

When they reached a secluded place, Zuko stopped in his tracks and asked, "Have you engraved everything I told you?"

Lena nodded earnestly.

"Under no circumstances should you let Renee get close to her."

"I understand." Lena's gaze darkened. "Taking these precautions in advance is the right move. Renee isn't thinking clearly, so who knows what she might do. And now that Lina is pregnant, we have to be even more careful!"

Zuko looked at her and said cryptically, "It seems like you genuinely care about Lina."

Lena did not say anything.

"Why?"

"Because..." Lena lowered her head, her voice soft. "Because Lina has been good to me."

"She also used to be good to Renee," Zuko retorted.

"I'm not the same as Renee!" Lena suddenly raised her voice. "I... I would never betray Lina!"

Zuko wanted to continue questioning but stopped before the words left his mouth.

He had considered many reasons, including the suspicion Chris had initially raised-Lena's sexual orientation. However, now that she was in a stable relationship with Chris, it indicated she liked men. Zuko was utterly perplexed. 'In this world, nobody is overly kind to someone else. Even within families, people can hurt each other for their own benefit.

'Wait! Family?!'

Suddenly, Zuko had a realization, and he gazed blankly at Lena.

Just then, his phone rang. When he picked up, he heard his father-in-law's deep voice. "Zuko, do you have a moment?"

"Dad... What's up?"

"Come over to my place now." Nicholas' voice lowered. "When you arrive, head directly to the study. And... don't let Pammy know about this." Zuko was puzzled but hung up and immediately headed to Thompsons' residence.

Nicholas was already waiting for him in the study. A cup of tea had just been brewed, the temperature perfect with the aroma filling the room. Zuko greeted him respectfully and took a seat opposite.

"Take a look at these." Nicholas placed a stack of photos on the desk.

Zuko flipped through a few and immediately recognized a key figure. "This guy...'

"Looks familiar?" Nicholas smiled faintly. "This is the person I've traced from the black market."

"Isn't this one of Kaitlyn's accomplices?" Zuko blurted.

Chapter 1422

Chapter 1422

In the previous investigation involving Kaitlyn, it was discovered that she had covert connections with a group of individuals. These individuals were part of a small gang hailing from Centrolis, consisting of low- level

thugs.

Subsequently, when Kaitlyn leaped off the cliff, these individuals dispersed and vanished without a trace.

Given Nicholas' influence, he could have easily captured them all, but he deemed it unnecessary. They were merely insignificant figures unlikely to cause any major trouble.

It came as a surprise they had now resurfaced in the black market.

"lan has already interrogated these individuals," Nicholas mentioned, sipping his tea. "They lack connections and were simply making a living by engaging in minor disruptions and extorting protection fees. Eventually, they entered the illegal drug trade, enticed by its profits, which led them to band together.

"Renee previously contacted them."

Zuko's expression darkened as he listened in silence.

"She asked them to purchase Safe Bet, a type of sleeping pill. This medication had been banned by authorities years ago but still circulate in the black market. According to their confessions, Renee paid them handsomely.

"After obtaining the drug, she ingested it in the recommended dosage, thereby not endangering her life. Astonishingly, she even called them after taking the drug to ask about its precautions."

Nicholas then displayed the phone records of their conversations to Zuko, who squinted. Renee had contacted these individuals before her suicide attempt.

"All of this was a meticulously calculated scheme on her part!" Zuko exclaimed bitterly. "She did it to manipulate Toph into feeling guilty and trap him, all to achieve her goals!"

Nicholas' expression changed, and he released a long sigh.

"Zuko, I'm truly sorry... I never anticipated that Renee would take such a path."

"Dad, this isn't your fault," Zuko reassured him.

"After discovering all of this, I've pondered a lot." Nicholas looked at Zuko, his eyes betraying his conflicting feelings. "Renee grew up in an abnormal environment from a young age, making it difficult for her to develop a sound mind. Even though she used to be kind and weak and intended to bring Pammy back wholeheartedly... a personality like hers will shift to the extreme when slightly provoked." "What do you plan to do?"

"Melvin kept me separated from my child for over 20 years. I won't allow his daughter to harm my family any longer," Nicholas stated.

Zuko nodded.

To some people, they might appear ungrateful. After all, Renee had not stooped to the level of seizing the Thompsons' assets when she posed as Pamela.

The circumstances had changed, though. One could not deny her malevolence now just because she had once been kind.

People changed-some for the better, while others became worse.

"Zuko, I'm not worried with you at the company's helm. But there's one more thing I need you to do."

"Go on, Dad."

Nicholas emphasized each word. "Strip Renee of her shares."

Zuko's eyes shone. He did not expect his father-in-law to share the same idea. He had been contemplating how to regain Renee's shares. Unfortunately, he had not come up with a feasible solution after researching extensively.

If Nicholas supported the idea, however, then this issue would become much simpler!

Zuko smiled with confidence. "She got those shares and assets from you as gifts. The Thompson Group's bylaws stipulate you can reclaim gifted shares, but there's a condition. You can only do it if the recipient's action is deemed as a threat to the company or someone's safety."

"Given Renee's current state, she's bound to engage in something harmful to the company's interests." Nicholas said, "So, you need to keep an eye on her. Once you catch her red-handed, you'll act on my behalf!"

He handed a document to Zuko, entrusting him with the authority to retrieve the shares. His signature was already there.

"If it's not necessary, I won't attend the board meeting." Nicholas sounded conflicted. "I don't want to face her... After all, Linda and I had always considered her as a daughter. We thought she would turn out like Pammy."

The reality was that blood ties were the most mystical. Some things were etched into one's genes and could not be easily changed.

Chapter 1423

Chapter 1423

Toph's comic series hadn't been updated for a few days. The comic platform had been promoting it because it had gained more than 100,000 views and a growing fanbase.

In spite of it, with the sudden lack of updates, not only did the platform's interests suffer-leading to his removal from the recommended list-but it also sparked discontent among many fans.

People criticized him in the comment section, calling him unprofessional. Certain haters even went so far as to insult his family for generations.

Zuko's assistant informed him of this matter. Just as Zuko was about to involve the PR team to address the situation, he realized that someone had already taken action to manage the negative comments. "Mr. Hamerton, should we proceed with our plan?"

Zuko hesitated. "Can you find out who's behind this?"

The PR team immediately went into action and soon came up with an answer.

"The address is a studio," an IT staff member replied. "The method is a bit crude. Deleting negative comments one by one and bumping up positive ones."

"It's a straightforward approach, but it's quite effective."

"Could this be one of Mr. Toph's admirers?" someone joked. "It's undoubtedly true love when they're willing to go to such lengths!"

"Shh..."

Everyone turned their gaze to Zuko.

Zuko smiled, easily guessing that it was Arya's doing.

On the other hand, Renee had not even called to offer a greeting since Toph began facing online attacks.

Zephyr and Cordelia were worried about Toph, asking Zuko several times a day about the progress of the matter.

Zuko reassured them with a smile. "Both of you can stop worrying. Toph has someone who cares about him!"

"What do you mean?"

Zuko smiled without answering.

Cordelia frowned. "Zuko, your brother has locked himself in his room these past few days, barely eating... He's even stopped drawing his comics. He's never acted this way before! Did he meet anyone before this?"

"Yes," Zuko answered truthfully. "He had a meal with Renee a few days ago."

"Why does it always involve her?" Zephyr was usually composed, but he could not help but get worked up when his son was being mistreated. "What did our family ever do to deserve this treatment from her? Why is she targeting Toph like this?"

"Dad, calm down." Zuko pacified him. "You and mom can rest assured. I know what to do and won't let Toph suffer anymore."

"How can I not be agitated..." Zephyr lowered his voice. "Back then, Zennie also faced a similar situation. She was gaslit and caught deep in it. Fortunately, she later met Seth and managed to gradually break free."

"Toph will also meet that someone who brings light into his life," Zuko commented.

"Hopefully," Cordelia softly interjected. "But it's also partly our fault. We've sheltered him too much since childhood. He is a boy and has missed out on the necessary experiences. He's pure and kind-hearted, which is an advantage. But it becomes a fatal weakness in the hands of those with ulterior motives!"

"Don't worry. I'm here," Zuko smiled and said, "I've arranged for a therapist for Toph. He'll get better. However... he needs to stay away from home for a while. Are you both agreeable?"

Zuko packed a simple suitcase for Toph and took him camping on the outskirts.

Before the camping trip, he had advised Toph to take everything he wanted with him so that they would not have to return for anything forgotten later.

Toph agreed listlessly, slouching on the sofa and gazing blankly at some point.

Zuko felt a bit sad. He walked over and patted his brother's shoulder. "Let's go!"

Chapter 1424

Chapter 1424

Toph nodded silently, his energy seemingly drained, as he followed Zuko.

The two brothers drove to the outskirts.

The sky was already getting dark. The colors of sunset gradually faded, leaving behind a deep indigo evening sky.

Zuko set up the camping tent and called Toph over for dinner.

The outskirts were calm, and soon, the night sky sparkled with countless stars.

Toph paused, realizing it was just the two of them. It felt like they were back in their childhood.

In their youth, they would enjoy carefree moments together in a private garden within Irwin Manor, often camping there. Back then, the night sky had been filled with stars and abundant fireflies. Toph's mood gradually improved, and he appeared to be smiling.

Zuko said gently, "Toph, it's just us now. I want to ask you something honestly."

"Yeah?"

"Can you and Renee still make it work?"

Toph hesitated, his expression changing once more. His voice quivered as he replied, "Zuko, I..."

Seeing him like this, Zuko understood everything. "If it's not working out, it's best to cut your losses. Even though there's an investment already made, it's better than continually trying to fill a never-ending hole."

Toph understood the logic but couldn't bring himself to act on it. "If it were Pammy, would you find it as easy to say the same thing?"

"That 'if' doesn't exist in the first place," Zuko stated firmly, looking at him. "Because Pammy hasn't changed!"

Toph fell silent for a moment. "I can't forget the first time I saw Renee at the Thompsons... Melvin told us she was Pammy, and she timidly served us tea. Her voice was soft and gentle... but why has she changed so much now?"

Zuko did not know how to answer his question. After a moment, he replied, "People change."

"Why did it have to be her who changed?" Toph covered his face in pain. "Zuko, I'm actually a little scared of her... I've been having nightmares lately. I dream that she's saying I'm no good, that I lack ambition, and that she wants me to compete with you for the Hamerton Group. I can't take it anymore!"

Zuko gently patted the back of his head.

When Toph cried as a child, Zuko used to comfort him that way, and then he would stop crying. Back then, Zuko believed he was invincible and could comfort his little brother forever.

Now, he felt powerless in the face of his brother's pain. "Toph, if you can make a firm decision, our whole family will stand by your side."

Toph gazed up at him with a look of helplessness Zuko had never witnessed before. It was like watching someone drowning, desperately reaching for their last hope. "Really?"

"Really." Zuko nodded firmly. "Our entire family, and one more person... She'll also support you unconditionally."

Toph frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

Was he talking about Renee?

Zuko smiled. "Get some rest. I'll take you somewhere tomorrow."

Toph tossed and turned all night. The next morning, he woke up groggily, feeling like he was walking on cotton.

Zuko drove him back to the city, and he fell asleep in the car.

When the car suddenly stopped, Toph's eyes snapped open. He realized that the place Zuko had mentioned was none other than the building where Arya's studio was located!

Chapter 1425

Chapter 1425

Toph was astonished, but Zuko smiled at him and led him up the stairs.

The building had only two units on each floor, and they were headed to the opposite side of Arya Comics.

"This..."

Zuko handed the keys to Toph. "You'll be staying here for the time being."

"What?"

"This is a property developed by the Thompson Group. The quality is absolutely guaranteed!"

"I'm not talking about that, I mean..." Toph's words trailed off as the door across from them gently opened.

Arya stepped out with a smile, holding a paintbrush in her hand.

Toph paused and smiled happily. He glanced into her messy studio, where paint, canvases, and papers were scattered all around. The litter of small kittens had grown, and they were now lively and watchful, their round eyes regarding him as a stranger.

Toph laughed. This was his first hearty peal of laughter in a while.

Zuko understood that it was time for him to leave. He handed the luggage to Toph and smiled at Arya. "He'll be living across from you from now on. Take good care of him, would you?"

After exiting the apartment building, Zuko took a deep breath and felt much more relaxed.

'Entrusting Toph to Arya should be the best outcome. However...' His eyes dimmed slightly. 'There is one more thing I have not dealt with yet. It cannot be considered the best outcome just yet.' With that thought in mind, he hurriedly headed toward the Thompson Group.

Jacquelin realized she couldn't continue working at the company. Her plan was to sell some of the clients' information from the sales department at a low price. After all, she had worked in sales for years and had great clients.

Although she had an obligation to keep the client data confidential, money mattered to her, and getting revenge on the Thompson Group was even more important.

Leaking client data wouldn't only bring her a small profit but also damage the company's reputation, leading to accusations of a privacy breach.

She smiled slyly as she secretly visited the company on her day off to organize the client data for the buyer. But suddenly, she bumped into Renee! "Ah!" Jacquelin exclaimed.

Renee's sinister and pale face looked scarier today.

"M-Ms. Renee," Jacquelin stuttered. "Y-You... How come you're in the sales department?"

Renee had long sensed something was wrong with Jacquelin. Her visit to the sales department today happened by chance. She remembered there was a bookshelf with books on sales and finance and wanted to borrow some to brainwash Toph.

Seeing Jacquelin acting so secretly surprised her.

She knew that Jacquelin was someone who would never work overtime. Her diligent behavior on a day off was definitely suspicious, so she had quietly followed her.

"Ms. Renee..." Jacquelin's smile faded away, her voice strained. "If there's nothing, I'll be leaving now!"

"Stop." Renee's voice was cold. "What do you have in your hands?"

Jacquelin's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tried to hide the documents behind her.

It was too late. Renee suddenly grabbed her wrist, and the documents fell to the floor. Alongside them, a small USB drive dropped as well!

Renee narrowed her eyes, instantly understanding what was happening.

"Is this client data? Are you intending to steal client data?!"

Chapter 1426

Chapter 1426

"N-No... No..." Jacquelin shivered.

She and Renee were birds of a feather. If news spread about her trying to steal client data, Renee, as a witness, might get dragged into the situation.

The seasoned members of the board of directors would likely blow this out of proportion, and Renee might struggle to defend herself later.

Jacquelin had a sudden idea. Instead of dealing with this on her own, it might be smarter to involve Renee and split the profits!

She composed herself and gazed at Renee. "Frankly, I can't bear being at the Thompson Group any longer, but I refuse to back down! Even if I leave, I want the Thompson Group's reputation in this industry to suffer.

"I intended to sell the client data. Earning some cash would be nice, but the crucial part is that our peers should be aware the Thompson Group deals in client data trafficking. It might deter potential partners down the line!"

Renee was shocked. "This is illegal!"

Jacqueline smiled maliciously. "If you and I don't say a word, who will know who did this? Everyone will think that the Thompson Group didn't do a good job when the truth comes out!"

Renee grew pale and bit her lip tightly.

"Ms. Renee, I know things aren't easy for you." Jacquelin tried to reason with her. "You're Ms. Pamela's cousin, but now that Lena is seizing every opportunity, it's like she's trying to replace you! Can you swallow this humiliation?"

Renee's fists clenched.

As long as Lena's name was not mentioned, things were okay. Just hearing her name was like touching her raw nerves. Apart from thoughts of revenge, there was no longer room for anything else in her heart. In fact, she had also noticed that Lina was growing closer to Lena recently. She deliberately distanced herself and instructed her secretary to say she was not in the office. Yet, Renee could see Lena delivering food to Lina.

Even more infuriating was that Lena would intervene and not allow her to get close to Lina at all!

Renee's breath grew more rapid, and her head throbbed as if all the blood in her body rushed there.

"Ms. Renee?" Jacquelin cautiously probed, noticing her agitation. "Are you alright?"

Renee remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "What do you have in your hands? Is it just client data from the sales department?" "What?"

"I know where the HR department keeps the personnel records, and I also know the codes for those lockers."

Jacquelin was astonished. "Ms. Renee, what are you planning to do?"

"Since the leak is inevitable, why not allow a bit more to trickle out?" Renee smiled coldly. "Release the employee files and send them to the headhunter firms. This will escalate the situation more quickly! When those headhunters begin calling one after the other, will the employees still find the motivation to work?"

Jacquelin froze. Was she aiming to completely destroy the company?

Even if she had many grievances against the Thompson Group, she would not go this far!

Despite that, this was actually good. With Renee involved, she would not have to take the blame for this!

Jacquelin immediately smiled flatteringly and followed Renee respectfully. The two of them quickly entered the HR department.

When Renee worked at the Thompson Group, Lina had never kept these things from her. She easily passed the facial recognition check, input the password, and retrieved the employee records. She flipped through them and suddenly came across a nearly blank sheet. She paused only to see Lena's name written on it!

Lena's employment record was completely blank, without anything filled in.

Renee turned to Jacquelin. "Doesn't the Thompson Group require its employees to list their backgrounds when they're hired?" "Of course. I listed many things at that time," Jacquelin answered.

Renee asked, "If they don't list anything or intentionally hide their background, doesn't that go against the company's rules?"

"Yes!" Jacquelin nodded. "Actually, it's not just the Thompson Group. Other companies are also quite strict about personal information screening. After all, nobody wants to hire a criminal, right?" 'Criminal?' Renee frowned as a sudden thought struck her. 'Yes! How could someone like Lena be innocent? Maybe there's a stain on her record, which is why she didn't fill it out!'

Chapter 1427

Chapter 1427

Renee smirked and placed Lena's file back. She turned to urge Jacquelin, "Are you done?"

Jacquelin was somewhat afraid but still mustered the courage to pull out some documents. She also retrieved electronic versions from the computer.

After completing these tasks in haste, they hurriedly left the HR department.

Renee was aware of the surveillance cameras' blind spots near the HR department entrance, so she skillfully avoided them. Little did she know, a pair of eyes was watching the screen with a smile at that very moment.

Three days later, the Thompson Group's board meeting took place as usual.

Although Renee rarely attended these meetings, she was present this time, as was Zuko. When Renee entered the meeting room, her gaze met Zuko's, causing her to shiver momentarily. However, she quickly composed herself and sat as if nothing had happened.

With everyone gathered, Zuko stood up and addressed the board with a chuckle. "Today's main topic is the Thompson Group's future development. Please feel free to share any constructive suggestions. Director Thompson hasn't been feeling well recently, so you can share anything you would tell her."

The board members, all seasoned individuals, immediately began praising Zuko and expressing interest in involving the Hamerton Group in potential investments.

Zuko smiled and glanced at Renee, who remained silent.

Once the board members had shared their thoughts, Renee finally spoke up. "I believe the company needs an urgent personnel restructuring. Some individuals may not be suitable to remain here, and perhaps not even in Centrolis."

Zuko's expression changed noticeably.

Before he could respond, Renee turned to Jade and asked, "As the head of the sales department, do you have the authority to access personnel information for your team members?" Jade was caught off guard but nodded in response.

"In that case, please head to the HR department and retrieve Lena's information, Ms. Neale," Renee instructed.

"What?" Jade considered for a moment and chortled. "Ms. Thompson, what do you mean by this?"

"Nothing special." Renee seemed nonchalant. "I just think that someone with her abilities might benefit from a department change. Maybe to the core level of the company."

"Uh..."

"While I don't have decision-making power, I can still suggest it to Lina." Renee smiled with a touch of provocation.

Jade stayed calm and composed, smiling as she replied, "Ms. Thompson, besides being inappropriate to request personal information without a valid reason, I wonder if Director Thompson is aware of this matter."

Renee paused. "I will inform her!"

"But I haven't received a call from her." Jade jutted her chin. "From the perspective of the entire company structure, Director Thompson is my direct superior. Without her notification, I won't head to the HR department to retrieve information."

She then added, "Ms. Thompson, you've been away from the company for quite a while, so you might not be very clear about these matters?"

"You..." Renee glared at Jade.

"Stop acting superior! If it weren't for Lina's high regard for you, she wouldn't have appointed you as the head of the sales department. Heh! To put it bluntly, you're just a lapdog of the Thompsons!"

"Ms. Thompson, when I joined the Thompson Group, no one even knew who you were yet." Jade remained unfazed. "You're just a distant relative surnamed Thompson. If I'm a lapdog of the Thompsons, then you're not doing any better. Ms. Thompson, would you like me to be even more blunt?"

"Jade Neale!" Renee was agitated, her voice changing tone.

Chapter 1428

Chapter 1428

Meanwhile, Zuko observed the situation calmly as if it had nothing to do with him. His indifferent attitude perplexed the board members. Renee recomposed herself and sneered, "Jade, you don't want to fetch it because you know Lena's personnel file is blank, right?" Jade glanced at her with a disdainful smile.

"Who knows if someone like Lena has a clean past?!" Renee turned hysterical. "If her background is spotless, why wouldn't she dare include her parents' names? Why wouldn't she dare to reveal her past?! "She's hiding it deliberately! Don't think that I don't know anything since I'm rarely here. I know that this is against the Thompson Group's regulations!"

At this point, a few board members chimed in.

"That's right! She's quite suspicious. Is she really from the sales department?"

"We're a big corporation, after all. We should be cautious about personnel matters!"

"Ms. Neale, perhaps you could help us fetch that employee's information. Maybe there's a misunderstanding. If we figure it out together, we can explain it to Ms. Thompson."

Jade looked at Zuko, who watched on without a word.

Renee smirked with satisfaction.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that Zuko had already received surveillance footage from the HR department's entrance on his phone. This footage captured her and Jacquelin's actions from the other day. Once the discussions had mostly settled, Zuko slowly stood up with a faint smile.

"Renee is right," he said in a deep voice. "The Thompson Group does have a rule that employee profiles must be filled out completely upon entry, with no deliberate omissions.

"But..." His gaze was as sharp as a blade as he turned to Renee. "How did you know that Lena's profile is blank?"

"I..." Renee's heart dropped.

Originally, she had intended to direct Jade to retrieve Lena's information and display it in front of everyone. Yet, due to her emotions getting the better of her, she had accidentally let it slip. Her expression changed, and she stared at Zuko, unable to speak.

"The Thompson Group also has another rule." Zuko's voice remained cold. "For vital departments, such as finance and HR, unauthorized entry is equivalent to jeopardizing the company's interests." He raised his hand, and his assistant immediately projected the surveillance footage onto the big screen.

Renee's mind went blank.

She had clearly taken advantage of the blind spots that day! How was it that this video had captured her every feature so clearly?

"No, it's not like this..." Her attempted defense seemed feeble. "Zuko, listen to me! I was misled by Jacquelin that day... Yes, it was her! She intended to sell the company's client data for personal gain!" "Is that so?" Zuko looked at her coldly. "Unfortunately, you can't confront her about it now."

"What are you saying?"

"You might meet her in prison."

Renee's body went limp, and she fell from her chair, landing on the floor in a daze.

At that point, none of the board members dared to speak up for her again.

Zuko recalled Nicholas' request and approached Renee slowly, stopping beside her.

"A shareholder's action that jeopardizes the company's interests can result in the company reclaiming their shares," Zuko enunciated each word mechanically.

He then produced a document with Nicholas' signature. "Renee, even though my parents-in-law are reclaiming your shares, they don't want to see you end up in prison. They've already done everything they can for you."

Chapter 1429

Chapter 1429

Toph hadn't heard from Renee in days. Slowly, he realized their relationship could never return to what it once was.

During this time, he came to understand a few things. Since their relationship had taken its course, it was best to let things unfold naturally. Not pushing too hard might show respect for their relationship and preserve their last shreds of dignity..

Furthermore, he found something he enjoyed.

He could chat about comics with Arya daily and discuss plots. When he got stuck, Arya would draw the characters with him. His comic had started serialization again, and with Arya's help, he had made some changes that led to a steady increase in viewership. While it hadn't reached the previous 100,000-plus mark, watching the data steadily rise gave Toph a great sense of accomplishment.

Most importantly, he could be himself around Arya.

She didn't pressure him with complicated theories or push him to compete for control of the Hamerton Group. In Arya's eyes, family and happiness were equally important. Like him, she had a loving older brother and didn't have to worry about family matters.

Arya told him, "When you're doing something, you don't need to calculate gains and losses. If you enjoy it, just go for it. Keep at it, and good results will come."

"So, you think my drawing isn't a waste of time, right?" Toph asked.

Arya smiled. "This is something you love, and it's meaningful. How could that be a waste of time?"

Suddenly, Toph understood the concept of "sharing the same values." He and Arya had similar hobbies and ideas and came from similar family backgrounds.

Neither of them had to struggle for their livelihoods because their families had enough resources to support their interests. This made it easier for them to get along.

However, Toph still often thought about Renee. Sometimes, he would lie awake in the quiet of the late night, replaying scenes from their past together. They had their happy moments, but everything changed later on.

As he thought about this, Arya's pure smile came to his mind.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately slapped himself, forcing those thoughts away.

Was he betraying Renee and their relationship by thinking that way?

He felt uneasy. He never saw himself as that type of person. Even if things didn't work out with Renee, he should take time to heal after the breakup before starting a new relationship.

Guilt engulfed Toph. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt about himself.

His upbringing taught him to take all the blame, but he forgot how others treated him.

During that period, he stopped talking about the comic with Arya. Even when she knocked on his door, he wouldn't answer. He would simply excuse himself, claiming he had a cold, and worried about passing it on to her, so he kept his distance.

Nevertheless, he leaned against the door, listening to her footsteps. He waited until he heard her return to her own place and close the door before sighing in relief. Still, a slight sense of disappointment remained in his heart.

Shortly after, a courier arrived, delivering a box of cold medicine. As Toph held the box, a rush of emotions overwhelmed him.

At the same time, his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Renee, begging to meet him.

Toph held his breath and took two steps back as his heart shattered like ice, a shallow ache spreading from deep within him.

[Toph, we haven't been in contact for so long. Don't you want to see me?]

His finger hesitated over the screen, but he took a deep breath and ultimately agreed to her request.

In truth, Toph wanted to see her, too. Not for any other reason but to finally have a clear conversation with her.

Chapter 1430

Chapter 1430

They agreed to meet at the coffee shop near the Thompson Group the next day.

Renee wore a white outfit and appeared tired. She arrived before Toph and patiently waited for him by the window.

This coffee shop used to be their regular spot, and this seat was their usual place. However, everything had changed, even though the setting remained the same.

When Toph entered the coffee shop and saw Renee by the window, it felt like he had been transported back in time for a moment. She held her cup carefully, her gaze hesitant as she looked at him, not daring to speak.

A pang shot through Toph's heart, like needles pricking him.

He walked over slowly and sat across from her. When Renee saw him, she froze for a moment and then smiled, pushing a vanilla latte toward him.

"This is your favorite," she said.

Toph glanced at it and smiled wryly.

It was not his favorite.

He loved the rich and sweet macchiato. He had only said he liked it when he brought her here for the first time. After that, he always ordered macchiato. But Renee had never paid attention to that detail, or maybe she had never cared about his preferences.

It turned out there had been signs all along.

Toph thanked her softly and took a sip out of politeness.

"Toph, I..." Before Renee could form a sentence, her eyes welled up with tears.

Toph handed her a tissue and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

"I... I know I was wrong." Renee choked out. "Toph, could you please help me? Other than you, I really have nothing left..."

Toph paused. Renee's hand rested on the back of his hand, and he instinctively pulled it back slightly. The movement was subtle, but he was surprised by his own action.

Did this mean that he subconsciously wanted to distance himself from her?

Toph's heart raced. He looked into Renee's eyes, finding something he could not quite understand within them.

"Lina's pregnant now, and Zuko's overseeing the Thompson Group for the time being..." Renee wiped her tears. "But he publicly revoked my shares during the board meeting that day!"

Toph frowned slightly. He had heard about this incident from Zuko, but the latter had only briefly mentioned it. Zuko had mentioned Renee and Jacquelin had plotted to leak company client information and got caught.

Jacquelin was already at the police station, and Renee's punishment was losing her shares.

Toph fell silent for a moment. "Renee, you're wrong in this matter."

"I know, I know!" Renee admitted her mistake straightforwardly this time. "Toph, I know I was wrong... I was wrong not only about this incident but also about everything before. I shouldn't have quarreled with you or forced you to do things you didn't like. I've made terrible mistakes!"

Her voice quivered as she implored him. "Toph, can you forgive me? For the sake of our past, can you forgive me this time, please?"

Toph was surprised but quickly realized something was off about this.

Still, he held onto a glimmer of hope and asked, "Renee, you're asking me to forgive you. What's the real purpose behind it? Do you genuinely want us to reconcile, or do you want me to help you regain your shares?"