Ch. 151..160

Chapter 151

Chapter 151

"Darling, this is Ms. Zennie Hamerton. She saved me last time."

"Zennie, this is my "

"I know!" Zennie hooked an arm around Cordelia's neck and grinned at Zephyr. "This is your husband, Marcus Grist!

"Hello, brother-in-law!"

Zephyr wore a straight face.

"Darling?" Cordelia elbowed him lightly. "Zennie's greeting you!"

Zephyr glanced at Zennie and made a low hum before turning to the back of the counter to check on the oven temperature.

Cordelia frowned, confused. She was also a little embarrassed in front of Zennie. The latter would not think that they were unwelcoming, would she?

"Zennie, excuse him." She smiled and said, "My husband's usually this stern and not quite a people-person... But you'll find out after spending time with him that he's a really nice guy!" Zennie nodded, holding back her laugh.

Since they were little, Zephyr was a "brat" to Uncle Matthew, and a "poker face" and "reaper" to the others in the family. He actually became a "nice guy" here with Cordelia.

It seemed that her elder brother was getting good at winning a woman's heart!

Cordelia made Zennie a cup of milk tea and asked her husband to keep an eye on the oven before she went to clean the porch.

As the buttery aroma wafted from the oven, Zennie went over silently for an ambush from the back, but Zephyr turned around a step earlier. He crossed his arms in front of him with a frown, his gaze sharp. Zennie gasped and quickly patted her racing heart.

"Heh... Hi, bro."

Zephyr arched his brow and smirked. "Watch it. I'm your brother-in-law."

Zennie stuck her tongue out and chuckled dryly.

Zephyr put on a stern look. "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Zennie answered innocently, "I'm really here to congratulate you! Besides, Cordelia asked me to come. I didn't come uninvited!"

"Never mind that you're freeloading your meals." Zephyr scowled, "Watch your tongue in front of my wife! Got it?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Zennie giggled. "I'm your baby sister. Would I expose you? You're Marcus Grist. We don't know each other! Okay? Sigh, bro... are my cranberry cookies done? I'll have two and take the rest to- go..."

"Why are you taking away so many?" Zephyr glared at her. "What will we sell when you take them all?"

"That's petty! Why are you glaring at me over a few cookies? I've never seen your heart ache when you spent so much money running the Hamerton Group when you assisted grandpa!"

"How could this be the same?" Zephyr rolled his eyes at her.

The oven dinged. Time was up. He wasted no time talking to her and wore mittens to pull the tray out.

Zennie went over like a greedy kitten, but Zephyr turned the other way with the tray.

The scene was coincidentally caught by Cordelia, who came in to wash her hands.

"Honey!" She was alarmed. "What are you doing!?"

Zennie immediately put on a wronged look and ran to Cordelia.

"Cordelia, he's not giving me the cookies... He said I eat too much!"

Cordelia glared at Zephyr, signaling him to put the tray down.

Zephyr pressed his lips together. Even though he had a scary look, he obediently placed the tray on the table.

"Cordelia, your cookies smell so good! Can I come here often?"

Cordelia agreed with a smile and turned away to wash her hands, softly warning her husband to treat her savior well.

While she turned around, Zephyr caught Zennie making funny faces at him boldly and even mouthing with a smirk, "So, you're scared of your wife!"

Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Zephyr also replied, mouthing, "You're asking for a beating!"

Zennie giggled happily and chomped down on the cranberry cookies, dropping the crumbs everywhere. Cordelia had gone to the front to water the plants, so Zephyr approached his sister with a scowl.

"Clean up after yourself!"

Zennie jumped due to the sudden voice. She gobbled whatever she had in her mouth down. Even though she was reluctant, she obediently took the broom from her brother and ultimately cleaned up the place caving into his authority.

"Bro, you're doing great now, huh?" She teased him while she worked. "The greatest husband alive, ain't it?"

Zephyr just glared at her.

Zennie grinned and packed the remaining cookies into a bag after she was done cleaning.

"Who are you giving them to?" Zephyr asked out of the blue.

Zennie was startled, quietly tightening her hand and holding the bag.

'Damn, I was still seen through.' She wondered how her brother got a pair of bright X-ray vision eyes. She could never hide anything from him.

"..."

Zennie wracked her mind for a lie, but Zephyr interrupted her directly. "You're definitely not eating them yourself!"

She froze and finally admitted with a grimace, coming clean. "I'm giving some to Phil."

Phil Nelson? Why was it him again?

Zephyr's gaze was a little icy with a wash of doubt.

The last time Zennie visited him in the hospital, she said that Phil accompanied her to Jangasas. He did not even remember the Hamertons having such a person. He later thought carefully and recalled that it seemed to start with Phil's grandfather working long-term with them. They were usually responsible for cleaning and would not appear before him. How did this fellow leave an impression on Zennie? Zephyr stayed aloof and asked, "He hasn't returned yet?"

"Of course not! How could he be at peace knowing I'm alone in Jangasas!?"

"He'd be worried about you?"

"Hmm... yeah!" Zennie looked flustered. "He's here to... protect me."

"You have to take people with you when you go out, but of all the bodyguards we have, you're taking a gardener?"

"Bro!"

"Zennie!" Zephyr looked stern. "Know your place and keep yourself away from Phil Nelson!"

"Why!?"

"You'll just make things hard for yourself!" he said surely. "That guy isn't worthy of you. Stay away while you can!"

"You mean he has a low background?" Zennie huffed. "Then what about you and Cordelia? You're already hiding your identity and becoming a model husband in Jangasas, and you're nagging me—" "I'm different from you!" Zephyr raged, growling with a suppressed tone.

The girl was rubbing salt into his wound with every word she said, bringing up whatever he did not want to hear. She was really here for trouble!

"Zennie Hamerton, consider this a warning. You're only 18 years old! You should be studying instead of dating. Break it off with that guy! Or I'll take care of Phil the moment I return to Centrolis!"

"You..." Zennie could barely take a scare. Her eyes went red from being growled at. She felt wronged but dared not throw a tantrum, pouting. "You wouldn't dare! If you touch him, I'll tell Cordelia who you are right now!"

Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Zephyr glared at her angrily but was at a loss for words because of what she said.

The girl wiped her tears. "So what about being 18 years old? Who says that 18-year-olds can't date? Nelly Tanner was all over you when you were 18 too!" "Zennie, one more word from you and!"

Zephyr's overwhelming dominance made the room feel as if it was submerged in a vacuum.

Zennie could only hear her heart thump wildly. She hung her head timidly and wrung her fingers together, biting her lips, not daring to say another word.

It was then Cordelia came in with Linda and Seth, Fredric following behind them. They were here to celebrate the opening of the shop.

Zephyr took a deep breath and did his best to plaster on a relatively natural smile before he went to them. He politely and courteously greeted them, looking very much like the host. Cordelia stood next to him, docile and admiring. Her infatuated look made Linda chuckle, snapping her out of her daze. She blushed and pursed her lips, escaping to the counter. "Can't have enough even when you're already looking at him every day?" Linda went after her and said, "But Marcus has done well with this. I changed my opinion of him! "Anyway, as long as he's willing to spend on you and not cause trouble outside, I'll acknowledge this brother-in-law!"

"Alright!" Cordelia smiled and showed her the menu. "Any drinks for you?"

"Not yet! Is everyone here already?"

"Carter has class today. He'll come after that. The others... are all here, I think."

Fredric chortled upon hearing this. Coincidentally, his phone rang, and his smile widened when he answered it outside.

The person on the other end of the line was Josiah, who was absent.

"Fredric, tell me Z's wrong." Fredric heard the loud complaint once he answered the call. "Am I that embarrassing? He's not letting me attend such a happy occasion..."

Fredric tried his best to hold back his laugh and consoled him. "Put yourself in Z's shoes for a bit. Cordelia thought you wanted to take advantage of her and got into the accident. Who knows how panicked she'll be if she sees you?"

Josiah was gloomy, sighing as he tossed the fishing line afar.

"So, Z's a classic example of gals before pals!"

"You can't say that either..." Fredric forced a peal of laughter back. "Z's actually quite nice to you. He's letting you go on a vacation in his hotel!"

Josiah was so close to moaning. A vacation? It was basically just sending him the farther, the better!

Zephyr knew him too well and knew that he liked making things merry. Even if he had warned that Josiah was not to come on the day of the opening, there was no guarantee that the latter would not cook something up with impulse.

In order not to scare Cordelia, Zephyr could only sacrifice his bro. It sounded nice that he was sent on a holiday in Centrolis and got to drink and eat to his fill in the hotel-even Edarial Dining was cleared exclusively for him.

The fact, though, was...

Josiah gripped the fishing rod and lamented to the sky, "He should disclose his identity if he's so capable! Let's see if the one scaring sis-in-law, in the end, will be him or me!"

"Shh! Keep it down!"

"Hmph! He only knows how to win women over with some blossom fish..." Josiah gritted his teeth. "I'll catch all of them in Splendor Mountain right now and see what he's winning over sis-in-law with... "Ahh!"

Fredric froze. Josiah had been rambling, but he suddenly let out a loud cry.

"Josiah?" Fredric was anxious. "What's wrong?"

"Josiah? Josiah Bayer! What's the matter with you?"

Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Josiah squinted, blinked, and shook his head. 'Did I see a ghost just now? That homeless fella...' He had just flashed past him, but those eyes and that face-he looked exactly like Zephyr's! "Josiah? Josiah Bayer!" Fredric called for him on the line. "You didn't fall into the water, did you?" Josiah did not respond. He forgot to hang up as he went after the man in a daze.

The man quickened his steps upon realizing that there was someone tailing him. Perhaps the man was familiar with the area as he vanished after going around the mountainous paths. Josiah stood on the spot, stunned with frozen limbs.

The hot spring hotel was not far away from Splendor Mountain on the opposite side, but the area in the middle was public domain, not belonging to the Hamertons.

Josiah was fishing in said area without his bodyguards, so he was unable to go after that man even if he wanted to. That homeless guy scavenging the trash can was already gone.

"Hey!" Fredric cupped a hand over his phone and called out, "Josiah, what's wrong with you?"

"N-Nothing." Josiah calmed down and took a deep breath. "I'm hanging up. Got an emergency!"

Fredric frowned. What emergency could the guy have other than picking up girls? Hah, he must have seen some gorgeous girl just now!

As for Josiah, he asked for his men the moment he went back to the hotel.

"It isn't too safe around here. Have you seen anyone suspicious?"

The men looked at each other and froze for a bit before shaking their heads. However, one of them stepped out to say, "Mr. Bayer, both sides here are the Hamertons' territory while the center and beach aren't under anyone. Are you referring to these places?"

Josiah slapped his thigh. "Yes!"

"We haven't really kept an eye on these areas, but..."

"Speak up!"

The man licked his lips. "It's said that a felon who was freed not too long ago is roaming this area. He has no proper job and sustains himself picking trash. He has also scared a few tourists by the beach." Josiah squinted and felt suspicions rising.

"Get the surveillance recording," he instructed seriously. "I want recordings from every corner. No angle missed!"

It was sunny, and the beautiful cafe was bustling.

Cordelia brewed coffee and made desserts behind the counter as she listened to her friends chat and laugh. While taking in the aroma in the place, bliss enveloped her, and she pulled the corners of her lips up.

A big hand landed on her shoulder softly. She turned back to meet a pair of deep, loving eyes.

"Tired?" The man smiled. "Leave them. I'll take care of it."

"It's okay." Cordelia shook her head. "The busier I get, the happier I am!"

There was a hair tie on Zephyr's wrist. He stood behind her and gently pulled her long hair up.

"Oh, yeah, there are still things you need to pick up." Cordelia turned back to look at him. "You'll have to take care of the cafe when I work. Making coffee and milk tea is fine. What matters the most is... You can't keep your poker face on. You need to learn to smile, or the customers will be scared away!"

Well, Zephyr could not help it. He could smile at her, but he could not do so with others.

"Come on." Cordelia prodded him. "Go chat with them and smile at them. Practice your smile!"

Zephyr was rendered speechless.

"Honey! Are you listening to me or not?"

Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Zephyr was speechless. He slowly shifted there and looked back at her with each step he took, hoping his wife would take back her order.

Despite that, Cordelia kept up an encouraging gaze and smile, putting him in a dilemma.

Ultimately, he gnashed his teeth with his mind made up and went to Zennie and the others.

The group was chatting merrily and was surprised when they looked up at him.

"M-Mr. Grist..." Linda was the first to notice that something was wrong and probed. "What is it?"

Zephyr looked tense and stern, standing straight and frozen for a few seconds... before he suddenly flashed his pearly whites!

The others widened their eyes and fell back, staring at him in disbelief. A few quiet seconds ticked past, and boisterous peals of laughter erupted in the small cafe.

Cordelia rushed over upon hearing the noise and was greeted by the group's guffawing. Zennie and Fredric almost fell off their chairs too! She then looked at her husband... The corners of his lips slowly went down, and he glowered harder.

Cordelia grimaced. He had already looked terrifying but felt even scarier when he smiled. It seemed that this man was really not cut for the service industry.

"Alright, stop laughing!" Cordelia hooked arms with Zephyr. She feared his pride would get hurt and tried to salvage some of it. "My husband just looks cold but has a warm heart. He was amazing just now! Besides, there's an adaptation process to everything!

Her gaze was warm. "Darling, you smiled really nicely just now! Just keep working on it!"

Zephyr was stunned and tightened his hold on the girl's hand.

Linda got up to put both her hands on Cordelia's shoulders. "Yeah, your superman husband can do everything! He's the guardian treasure of the cafe!"

"Of course!" Cordelia looked at the man next to her admiringly. "Our business will only get better with my husband here!"

"Mn!" Seth stood up. "Your life will get better too!"

"Yeah!" Linda beamed. "Since your life's improving, should you two consider adding a new member to the family?"

"Linda..." Cordelia blushed.

"What's there to be embarrassed about? This is huge. When are you going to execute it? Heh, I'm waiting to be a godmother!"

Seth cried impatiently, "Then I'm going to be the godfather!"

Fredric protested, "What about me?"

"Why don't... they give birth to a few more so we get a kid each?"

"Hahaha..."

The cafe was filled with merry laughter. The atmosphere felt just right.

In spite of it, a few black Porsches suddenly stopped in front of the shop. A group of men in black came down, holding flower baskets with blank faces. They put the flowers on the porch and stood on both sides with solemn expressions.

Everyone in the cafe was shocked.

Zephyr frowned and put Cordelia behind him instantly, watching the outside in alertness.

"This place seems decent!"

Nicholas strolled in with a smirk.

He looked around leisurely and picked a table to sit down and cross his legs.

Linda kept a close look on him, shaking, but she did not know that the eyes behind the sunglasses were also watching her.

Nicholas' smile froze for a split second before he took a deep breath and got up to go to Zephyr. He patted the latter's shoulder arrogantly. Zephyr avoided to the side and flicked his hand off with a cold gaze.

"Hah, Marcus, we were bros!" Nicholas scoffed. "Why didn't you ask me to congratulate you on such a significant grand opening?"

Chapter 156

Chapter 156

Zephyr looked at him icily, an alert and dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

Nicholas chuckled coldly as he looked at the man thoughtfully. "Marcus, the rental and renovation cost quite a dime, huh? Where did you get so much money from?" "None of your concern." Zephyr looked stony and cold.

"I took care of you when we were behind bars, bro." Nicholas was overbearing. "Hah, you can let me know if you lack money. I'll lend it to you for sure. I won't let you suffer!"

"Thanks but no thanks."

"I'm not expecting such determination! Marcus, you aren't like what they say, right? That you've been depending on your wife?"

Nicholas' eyes went to Cordelia, who was behind Zephyr when he spoke.

Zephyr clenched his fists, the veins on his toned forearms clear to sight.

"Stop your nonsense." Cordelia's voice sounded suddenly.

She stepped in front of Zephyr, her pretty eyes wide, resolute, and fearless. She might be soft in certain matters but stood firm when someone picked on her husband.

"Mr. Thompson, my husband gifted me this shop. We don't need your money! He's hardworking and takes care of the family now, giving me what he earns. From what I see, he's the best husband in the world! "So please watch your words next time. Stop judging others with your old standard!"

Nicholas blinked and carefully examined the girl in front of him. He hummed a while later, saying, "Pretty, it's not that my standard's old. It's that your husband's really awful!

"Hah, do you know what sent him to prison in the past?"

"Nicholas Thompson!" Linda suddenly got up and stared straight at him. "You're not welcome here. Please leave!"

Nicholas felt his heart squeeze. He slowly turned around and took off his sunglasses. It had been eight years. The person in front of him was the same but not anymore. Their gazes were no longer what they looked like right when it all began.

Nicholas forced a smile. "Ms. Quimby, how have you been?"

Linda did not hear that he had tried his best to stop his voice from shaking.

She took a deep breath. "Nicholas, today's the grand opening of my friend's business. We don't want to spoil the fun because of you. Please be sensible and leave on your own!"

"Who says that I'm here to spoil it?" Nicholas snorted and pointed at the two lines of flower baskets outside. "I came with gifts!

"Besides, you're accepting someone like this as a friend?" Nicholas' gaze was flippant as he smirked.

Linda's brows were tightly knitted as she trembled. "Cordelia's my best friend! Since she's married Marcus, he's my friend too. I forbid anyone from wrecking my friend's place!"

Nicholas' hand that held his sunglasses tightened. He looked at her quietly, a flash of warmth running in the bottom of his eyes. The woman was still like how she used to be-loyal, biased to her own kind, and faithful.

She did not know that this world had many traps, though. What if she accidentally stepped into a bottomless pit?

Nicholas was silent for a long time before he smiled and waved a hand to get his men in.

Over ten men in black quickly filled up the small cafe, and the mood changed drastically.

"Ms. Quimby, you must be joking." Nicholas smiled. "I'm not here to wreck anything. I'm a customer!

"Mr. and Mrs. Grist," he said, looking at the couple. "Please make us a cup of coffee each. Latte without sugar."

Cordelia had never experienced something like this. No matter how composed she looked on the outside, her heart was drumming.

Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Cordelia subconsciously grabbed Zephyr's arm and shot him a timid glance.

Zephyr looked indifferent as he stepped forward and said with a deep voice, "We don't have enough ingredients today and can't serve so many people. You can come again tomorrow if you want coffee, Mr. Thompson."

"Dessert's fine too if there's no coffee!" Nicholas grabbed a cookie seeing there were some on the table.

However, Zephyr kept the tray a step earlier and looked at him fiercely.

Nicholas paused before he tried to catch Zephyr's hand with an aggressive and hostile gaze.

Zephyr was on his guard. With a tilt of his body, he pinned Nicholas' wrist instead! Both of them were caught in a stalemate, and the atmosphere felt tense.

The men in black around them were ready to strike as well.

Cordelia felt cold beads of sweat trickle down her back.

Nicholas launched a punch, which Zephyr caught. His expression was icy and cool, the sense of pressure surprising Nicholas.

Zephyr emphasized each word. "Mr. Thompson, you can come to my boxing club if you want to train. I can spar with you. But it's my wife's cafe opening today. You'd best not seek trouble. Otherwise, your men might not rival me!"

Nicholas frowned, his gaze suddenly dropping on the back of Zephyr's hand.

A patch of skin on the back of Marcus' hand was burned, but the back of this man's hand was clean without a trace of being injured!

Nicholas bit his lips and slowly straightened up with his hands on his side.

Cordelia ran to Zephyr and looked at Nicholas warily.

"It must feel great to have a loving wife!" Nicholas sounded sarcastic. "Mrs. Grist, anyone's better than this guy here with your looks! I have plenty of young and promising men under me too. I could introduce them to you."

"You-"

Cordelia was angered and was going to say something, but Linda rushed forward and slapped the man.

"Linda..."

"Get out." Linda glared at the man. "Leave!"

The men in black got up, but Nicholas stopped them with a raise of a hand. He rubbed the side of his face that was slapped and felt as if the throb went straight to his heart.

He smiled and looked at Linda, but there was a wash of grief in his eyes.

"Why have you become like this..." Linda's voice was trembling. "Nicholas, take your people and leave right now. Don't disturb my friend again!"

Nicholas nodded and swiftly recovered his thuggish way.

He put on his sunglasses and waved, his underlings escorting him out of the porch. The Porsches at the door started their engines and kicked up some dust.

As the cafe quieted down, everyone felt the lingering fear.

Zephyr gently hugged Cordelia in his arms while Cordelia looked at Linda in worry. The latter did not look good. She was pale and needed the support of the table to stand. When Nicholas walked out of the shop, it seemed like he had taken her soul away too.

Seth braved himself to hold her hand but was shocked by how cold she felt.

Cordelia went over to hug her and said softly next to her ear, "Linda, let me send you home first!"

Linda was quiet for a long time before she sobbed. "Sorry..."

Cordelia shook her head with a smile and tenderly tucked her hair for her. She then asked Zephyr to take care of the customers in the cafe before she left with Linda.

Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Nicholas sat in the car. Even when the air-conditioning was blasting at the lowest temperature, he still felt incredibly frustrated. He rubbed between his brows and felt his headache slightly soothed. Despite that the pang in his heart only grew more prominent.

The first day he went behind bars, he knew that he was no longer in the same world as Linda. He could not take care of her for life-he could only look up at her, miss her, and die keeping her safe.

That was why he was alarmed and scared when he saw that she was involved with Marcus. He knew what kind of person Marcus was all too well, and he would never let someone like him have the chance to hurt her!

As long as someone was a threat to her, he would eliminate it disregarding the price he had to pay. This was also why he kept picking on Marcus.

Today, however, he confirmed something in certainty-that man was not Marcus Grist!

His underling ended the call and turned to him with a grim look to say in a hushed tone, "N, news from Centrolis says that... Marcus Grist isn't dead yet!"

"Confirmed?" Nicholas was on guard. "He's in Centrolis right now?"

"It's true."

Nicholas nodded and frowned. Then who was Cordelia's husband?

From the looks of it now, Cordelia did not know that the person she had married was not Marcus. What was the man planning?

Questions surfaced in Nicholas' mind one after another. He felt like he had entered a maze and could not find the exit, no matter what.

"N, since that guy isn't Marcus, are we backing down?"

"That'd be good," replied Nicholas. "We have no grudge against them. We should stop bothering them. But have you found out who he is?" "Uh..." His underling was troubled.

"Forget it!" Nicholas leaned back and closed his eyes, but his phone buzzed not too long later.

His underling passed the device to him. The screen showed Yale's name, repulsing him.

Nicholas did not want to get involved with Yale, but he was not yet established in Jangasas. He could not offend any forces easily. With the support of the Hamertons, he would be able to build himself up, whether it was in Centrolis or Jangasas.

Nicholas heaved a long sigh and picked up the call just when the other end of the line was about to lose his patience.

As expected, Yale complained the moment the line was connected, "What are you doing answering after so long?! Do you f*cking want to die!?"

Nicholas was glowering, but he had to sound apologetic. "How can I help you, Mr. Yale?"

"I hear that the subordinates of the gang leaders you've wiped out in Jangasas came to you for revenge?"

"Positive." Nicholas' tone was unfazed. "But monkeys scatter when the tree falls. It's a fact. They can't afford to avenge the grudge."

"Hah..." Yale scoffed. "You're pretty good!"

"You've flattered me."

"Since you're so capable, do something for me."

Nicholas listened in silence.

Yale continued. "I want you to wipe someone out for me!"

"Are you kidding, Mr. Yale?" asked Nicholas flatly. "This is a lawful society. It's not so easy to make someone disappear."

"It might not be easy to others, but it's a walk in the park for you," Yale said with a chuckle. "N, if you accomplish this, I have nothing to say even if your club's set up right next to Hamerton Manor! With your territory set in Centrolis, success will come to you sooner or later!"

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Chapter 159

Nicholas paused and asked, "Who do you want gone?"

There was an eerie silence before Yale uttered heavily, "The third heir of Hamertons, Zephyr Hamerton!"

There was an icy glint in Nicholas' eyes.

"Come to Centrolis if you're free. We'll talk in detail when we meet!"

Cordelia looked at Linda, who was curled up on the bed, and could not help feeling the pinch in her nose as she patted her back softly.

Since they came back, Linda had not said a word. She holed herself in the bedroom once she entered the house, and her eyes seemed to have lost their focus. She looked like a husk where her soul was sucked away.

"Linda, you must be hungry?" Cordelia tried everything she could to strike up a conversation. "Seth and Marcus are outside. I'll get them to make you something, okay?"

Linda blinked, and a teardrop rolled off her eye.

Cordelia felt her heart clench.

The Linda she knew was feisty and carefree, like a seagull cruising through wind and riding on waves. It was as if there was nothing in this world that she could not overcome. Now, though... After a while, Linda took a deep breath and slowly sat up in bed. She wiped her tears dry and forced a smile.

She said softly, "Cordelia, I'm sorry for today="

"Why are you apologizing!?" Cordelia interrupted her anxiously. "Nicholas' the one who came to pick a fight. It's not like you asked him to come!"

"But it still has something to do with me!"

Cordelia widened her eyes. "Linda, you mean he came for you?

"But it doesn't look like it to me. He's here for Marcus! They... had grudges when they were in prison last time."

"Hah, right." Linda chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Cordelia, look at me. I used to look down on Marcus, thinking he didn't deserve you!

"But what's my ex-boyfriend like? He's no different from Marcus! He's gone in there too!"

"Linda..."

"He got locked up because of me!" Linda could no longer hold herself back and cried.

Cordelia was stunned, and her mind blanked out. It was after a long time that she heard Linda's soft voice.

Linda had only told half of her and Nicholas' story to Cordelia the last time. This other half was devastating. It was also a memory that she did not want to look back on.

"Actually... my parents were already divorced when I was very young," Linda recounted. "The court gave me to my mom, but she was only a regular doctor back then. She was busy and had to take care of a child. She could barely make ends meet with her monthly income. In order to give me a better life, she found me a stepfather."

Cordelia had met Linda's stepfather before. He was a kind and friendly man who ran his own small business. The man was not rich, but everyday life was not an issue for them.

"Stepdad has a son whom I've always treated as my older brother." Linda wiped her tears with quivering lips. "I see him as a brother, but he thinks of me with ulterior motives! He made me go to the construction site at the back of the school in senior year and forced me to..."

Cordelia held Linda's icy hand, feeling his heart tighten.

"But he didn't expect that Nicholas was following me. When he pinned me on the ground, Nicholas stabbed him with a knife...

"I panicked so much that I went blank. I only remember blood everywhere. Nicholas kept stabbing him, and he had blood on his face. My brother twitched in his pool of blood... until someone passed by and called the police."

Cordelia sucked in a cold breath. "So, he was sentenced because of this?"

Linda looked at her quietly, her pale face wearing a grieving expression.

Chapter 160

Chapter 160

Nicholas had been sentenced to eight years of jail time for intentional assault to protect Linda.

Linda had gone to visit him in prison countless times during her university years, but the warden's response would always be a cold, "He doesn't want to see you". Her last visit was when she graduated from university. She had gotten the company offer and wanted him to be the first person she shared the happy news with.

As she anxiously waited outside the visiting room, she heard the heavy noise of the metal door. Her tears were uncontrollable when Nicholas sat on the other side of the glass that separated them. This was his first and last sentence to her. "Don't cry. It's not worth it to cry over someone like me."

He looked at her deeply after that before getting up and going behind the metal door.

Linda slammed the glass with all her might, and the prison warden stopped her. The news came from the inside a while later. The warden told her solemnly that Nicholas had asked her not to visit him anymore and that she should act like they did not know each other even if they met.

Linda could only hear her ears buzz as her mind went blank.

After she left, Nicholas fell so ill in prison that he almost died. While he was groggy and sick, Linda's soft voice and giggles appeared in his mind, interspersed with the gang leader's dark face. "Nicholas, you said you're protecting me this lifetime. You better keep your promise!"

"Nick, I'll give you 30% of the profit as long as you're able to get these out!"

"Nicholas, I want to go to Centrolis for university. If you don't want to continue studying, work there, okay? Then we won't have to be parted!"

"Hah, I remember you have a girlfriend, right? I'll get someone else to do the job if you don't want to do it, but I can't mistreat my underlings. Your girlfriend will have to keep them happy!" Nicholas' brows were knitted together as fat droplets of sweat dotted his forehead.

"Don't hurt her... No one can hurt her!"

He had said that he was going to protect her forever. He was a man of his word and would not break his promise. However, the premise of protecting her was that he had to be alive. The maximum for intentional assault was ten years of jail time while transporting or selling drugs would ensure his death if he were caught, especially at the weight of that batch.

He knew that the son of Linda's stepfather had offended the gang leader, so he took that opportunity to stab the guy into permanent disability.

The gang leader would not target Linda because he did something for him and was put behind bars. It was worth exchanging eight years of his life for her safety.

"Hah, I have to stay alive..." Nicholas smiled blearily. "Alive... to protect her.

"Protect her for life."

Seth had made some congee in the kitchen.

As Zephyr returned with purchased beer from downstairs and saw Seth standing in a daze, he wanted to console him but did not know what to say. He walked in and handed him a can of beer. They exchanged a smile and went to the living room. After a moment of silence, Seth chuckled wryly and asked, "Did you all... know about him a long time ago?"

Zephyr answered after an initial daze, "It's all in the past. No need to get worked up over it."

"I want to keep the past in the past too." Seth sighed. "But it's not the past to Linda..."

Zephyr furrowed his brows. He knew Seth. The latter was not a petty man. He would not mind Linda's past and only wanted the future with her.

In spite of it, how could it feel good when one moved into another's heart that was not emptied?

"That guy's in the gangs," Zephyr said and continued in a low tone after a pause. "He can't be seen in the open."

Seth looked at him.

"And you're a doctor." Zephyr continued. "You can hold Linda's hand as you stroll in broad daylight. You can give her a secure life. You've already won based on this." "Have I?" Seth winced. "Yeah, I'm a doctor, but I'm unable to treat her."