Ch. 1881..1890

Chapter 1881

Chapter 1881

Delilah's mind went blank.

Cindy's stab contained all the resentment she had gathered throughout her life. The bodyguards rushed in as it plunged into her chest.

"Let me go! Let me go at once!" Cindy screamed, condemning, "I must kill this devil! She killed my daughter... My Jojo!"

Daniel signaled the bodyguards to escort her out.

Delilah knelt on the ground, shaking and pale.

At that moment, Daniel cared more about Maisie. He hugged her tight, feeling her tremble. Heartbroken, he gently pulled her into his chest.

Maisie looked at Cindy. All the grievances she had felt since youth exploded.

At that moment, she finally realized why she meant nothing to Cindy. She understood why her mother showered love on her brother and sister. She finally comprehended why she became the family's money- making machine and why Cindy remained indifferent despite her sacrificing happiness for the family...

'So, we aren't related by blood...'

She sobbed, then smiled later on.

It was a beautiful smile, tainted with endless mockery and anger at being deceived by destiny.

Daniel took her away, worried she might collapse.

When Wilfred tried to call out to her, he found he couldn't make a sound. His throat felt blocked, as if a rock pressed on his chest.

His face flushed, and he fell to the ground with wide-open eyes while holding his chest.

The incident only temporarily quieted down-it had yet to end.

Wilfred was sent to the hospital and spent a couple of days in the ICU, regaining his life.

It was chaotic at the Newhouses, and nobody cared about Harvey.

Once Toph was mentally better, he handled Harvey's funeral. He bought a grave in an amazing location and buried Harvey there.

Toph then had people clean Harvey's studio and organize his artwork.

He secretly kept a stack of drafts and looked at them quietly when nobody was around. Pain stabbed his heart, and tears welled up in his eyes. After returning to Centrolis, he stayed in his room for a couple of days.

Cordelia was worried about him and hired a psychologist to talk to him, but he refused to see them.

One day.

Cordelia paced outside Toph's room anxiously.

Zuko patted her shoulder, guiding her to the garden downstairs.

"He won't see any doctors now." He sighed. "Doctors led to Harvey's condition... Perhaps he's guarded against people in the same profession now."

Panicking, she asked, "So what do we do now?"

"Give me a little more time to heal," Zuko replied.

"He's always been the sunshine boy, but he's depressed now. I..." Cordelia became teary.

"Don't worry, mom," Zuko reassured her, gripping her shoulders. "I think he's okay. Besides not stepping outside, he's been eating and sleeping. Harvey died because of him, and he's emotional. Give him time to heal. Just like when he was with Renee, didn't he go through the same thing?"

"I guess that's the only thing we can do for him..." Cordelia choked. "You must watch him at all times in the next few days. Tell me as soon as you notice something off!"

Chapter 1882

Chapter 1882

"Okay," Zuko said.

"Oh, right. How is it in Cumulus City?" Cordelia asked.

Zuko fell into silence for a moment before saying, "Dad has used his connection to shut out Delilah's family. It's hard for them to rise again."

"Great job!" Cordelia gnashed her teeth. "She's too evil. She should suffer eternally!"

Zuko chuckled. From what he remembered, although his parents had always been ruthless in everything they did, they would not go all the way. They always told him and Toph that they must give chances. However, they also said they shouldn't show mercy if the person had crossed the line!

Just like Delilah-she should not be forgiven!

Zuko continued. "As for Jodie, the trial was top priority due to dad's connections. She was sentenced to kidnapping and first-degree murder. Also, they found prohibited guns at her place. With her crimes added up, I'm sure she can't escape the death sentence."

Cordelia nodded.

"Looks like dad is really mad this time." He chuckled. "You can tell how mad he is with Delilah and Jodie for him to use his connections to clean up the mess!"

"Of course he's mad. They kidnapped his son!" Cordelia looked at Zuko. "Although your dad is strict with you guys, he loves the both of you! He would fight anyone who dares to hurt you with his life!"

"Mom..."

"What?"

Zuko looked at her for a while before smiling happily.

As a Hamerton heir, he may have undergone the most rigorous training in the world since his youth, yet he also experienced the boundless love of being their son.

"What are you trying to say?" Cordelia widened her eyes. "You stopped halfway, and now you're smiling like an idiot! Oh yes, about Delilah..."

"Oh!" Zuko snapped back to his senses, "It was Uncle Daniel who spared her life. Perhaps she's still useful to him."

"How can she be useful? She's just a pest to be alive!"

Zuko looked at her. "Mom, her life's not spared so that she can keep hurting people. Instead, she needs to pay for her crimes. Ms. Whitney has found evidence of Delilah's plagiarism. That's the end for her." Cordelia thought to herself and nodded. She asked eventually, "Then what about... Maisie? Is she okay?"

Zuko fell into silence for a moment before shaking his head.

Maisie was the one who was affected most emotionally.

Daniel took her to Rose Island that day. He thought she could rest there since it was far away from all of the noise, but it did not work.

She seemed at peace on the outside after all that had happened. She ate and slept normally and would greet everyone on the island courteously whenever she saw them.

However, she was doing all that like a robot. Her eyes were empty, like a shell whose soul was taken away.

Sometimes she would just sit there blankly and start crying.

Daniel was worried and scared.

The reason was that she was behaving out of her mind right now. The same thing happened when she lost the baby.

Chapter 1883

Chapter 1883

Whitney walked cautiously to Maisie's room and coincidentally encountered Daniel, who had just exited. "How is she?" she asked. Her eyes filled with concern, but there was nothing she could do.

Daniel pulled her aside and whispered, "The doctor mentioned her depression came back."

She was stunned. "What depression?"

"Well..." He hesitated, not wanting to revisit the past, but with Maisie deteriorating, he had to confront it.

"Got it." Whitney nodded, frowning. "I always thought there was more to you two. I thought she only dated you for your money. She's a loyal girl, just like her mom in a relationship!"

"I didn't protect her back then."

"The past is the past. You can't turn back time." She sighed. "But no matter what you do now, give your best to help her through this!"

"I know."

Whitney led Daniel to the study, retrieved a box from the drawer, and handed it to him. "You're my nephew, as close as a son to me. Now that you've found someone you want to spend your life with, I'll give you this."

He paused before opening the box, revealing a diamond bracelet.

The beautiful, clear diamonds sparkled under the light.

He recognized it instantly as the Kinglakes' heirloom.

"Aunt, I..."

"Although you're a Newhouse, your grandfather always treated you as a Kinglake!" She smiled. "You're the Kinglake heir, so your wife should own the heirloom!

"All we want now is for Maisie to get better. Your uncle and I will host a grand wedding for you, a fanfare for her to marry into the family, to grow old with you!"

Daniel smiled and nodded, looking at her gratefully.

Daniel placed the bracelet on Maisie's nightstand and gently caressed her cheek.

The doctor had prescribed medicine to help her calm down. After taking it, she settled into a long nap.

As Daniel reflected on the difficult environment Maisie had grown up in, sent to him by Cindy as a means to generate income, he couldn't shake the image of her navigating life cautiously. It was as if she had been tiptoeing on eggshells during the few years she spent with him.

The heartbreaking thought of her losing a child and the apparent cruelty of destiny, despite her memory loss, overwhelmed him. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Simultaneously, he found solace in the realization that fate had brought her to him. If Cindy had directed her elsewhere, Maisie might have endured a lifetime of misery.

A soft moan escaped Maisie's lips, and she curled into a ball, visibly in pain.

Concerned, he asked, "What's wrong, Maisie?"

She awoke from her dream, suddenly sitting up. When she saw Daniel, she remained in a daze, unable to speak for a moment.

"Maisie," he said, holding her hands.

The warmth from his palms provided a sense of security.

"How about we go for a walk?" he suggested.

She nodded, but her eyes remained vacant as if she were a puppet under his control.

Chapter 1884

Chapter 1884

Daniel had been strolling around the island with Maisie these days. She thought it would be the same this time but did not expect him to take her straight to the dock and get the butler to navigate the boat. Confusion flashed through her empty eyes.

She looked around and saw a suitcase on the dock.

"Don't worry." Daniel chuckled and grabbed her shoulders. "I thought you might be bored living on the island for a while now. We'll stay somewhere else."

"Where... are we going?"

It was the first time she had spoken in these days.

Daniel repressed the happiness in him and whispered, "You'll find out soon. I'm sure you'll love it."

She leaned on his shoulder while indulging in the sea breeze. It was fresh and salty. A couple of seabirds surrounded the boat, chirping happily.

The sunset far away was so beautiful it would make one forget to breathe.

Maisie closed her eyes. She felt safe to be with him. No matter how high they flew, they would always land safely.

Daniel took her to the old villa.

It was their home in the past. There were many sweet memories, as well as scars that she did not want to recall.

Maisie seemed to be reminded of something the moment she stepped into the courtyard. She suddenly stopped and looked at him in panic.

Daniel felt a squeeze in his heart. He saw how helpless she was from her eyes. He saw her fear and the urge to escape her past.

"Daniel, I..."

"There are people cleaning the house every day so that the lady of the house will return one day." He looked into her eyes, his voice gentle. "Let's stay here tonight, shall we?"

She blinked and said nothing. Her palms, as well as her heart, were cold.

It was not that she could not sense how worried he was-it was just that she had been a mess...

She was clueless about how to face everything, be it her biological father or her misplaced life.

She just could not figure out why it must be her, that everyone grew up in their parents' love, yet she did not.

"Here. Let's take a walk." Daniel handed the bags to the maid and held her hand. They went to the hill behind through the courtyard.

Maisie followed him aimlessly. When they unknowingly arrived before a small grave, she felt her heart squeezed, and she started sobbing.

There was a bouquet of daisies there. Daniel had gotten someone to put it there yesterday.

"I... dreamed of her last night." He forced a smile and said, "It's strange. I don't know what she looks like, but I saw her clearly in my dream."

Maisie looked at him in disbelief.

"She looks just like you," he said gently. "She was three or four, dressed in a flowery dress. She ran toward me like a happy little bird... She called me 'daddy' loudly. I opened my arms and hugged her. I felt warm in the dream. It was the first time I hugged my daughter.'

"W-What else?" Her voice was shaking.

Daniel paused before saying hoarsely, "Then she asked... if her mom has been upset lately."

Maisie covered her mouth and sobbed again.

"Maisie, our daughter wanted me to tell you that she's doing great over there, so she hopes that you're doing good too. She wants her mom to let go of everything that's upsetting her and to be the happy person that she always was.

"Curtisa hopes that you'll get better." Daniel was choking. "You should get better so that she won't worry. That's the least you can do, right?"

Chapter 1885

Chapter 1885

They stood before the small grave for a long time. After returning home, Maisie slept soundly.

Resolving emotional entanglements sometimes only took a second.

Despite daily cleaning efforts, the house remained unchanged for years. However, Maisie took it upon herself to rearrange the entire place. She replaced the carpet with a vibrant-colored one, planted beautiful orchids in the courtyards, and wiped every decoration squeaky clean.

Her smile returned. She understood the importance of living well for the people who loved her, like Daniel and their unborn daughter.

Delilah's case faced continual delays, sparking discussions and speculations. Some claimed that, despite the Ropers' faded glory, they likely still had connections.

Others whispered that it was calm before the storm, hinting at potentially more significant challenges ahead.

A week later, Whitney and Lily held a joint press conference. In addition to introducing Maisie's new book, there was a more critical announcement to share with the world.

"Everyone, I'm sure you've guessed that Ms. Kinglake isn't here solely for the new book but to address the hotly debated case of Ms. Roper!"

Lily smiled and gestured toward Whitney, who confidently walked onto the stage. Her extraordinary charisma and commanding presence silenced the journalists, momentarily causing them to forget whether to record or take pictures.

The room only regained its liveliness after Whitney spoke.

"Everyone, I'm here to share a story buried for years. It might sound a bit unbelievable, but I guarantee with my entire being and my family that every word I'm about to say is true. If I lie, I'll accept the legal consequences!"

The audience exclaimed, curious about the reason behind such a bold statement.

A screen ascended behind Whitney, displaying the mystery novels that Delilah had published.

Meanwhile, the image displayed Anya's draft, with dates inscribed on it. Meticulous journalists observed a discrepancy between the publishing dates and those on the draft. "Can it be..."

"That's correct. This is what I'm about to share with you!" Whitney maintained composure, her eyes resolute. "Delilah's Whirling Lights series is a direct copy of the Dancing Lights draft!" A commotion ensued among the onlookers, sparking discussions.

It was akin to a volcanic eruption or earthquake in the literary industry!

Delilah, an established author with significant standing and connections, and Whitney, an industry ace and respected drama school professor, had long been rumored to have a feud. However, no one anticipated Whitney exposing something so astonishing.

"Is Ms. Kinglake's claim true? Her reputation can be tarnished if this is defamation!"

"I believe it's Delilah whose reputation is on the line, isn't it?"

Chapter 1886

Chapter 1886

"That's right. Judging by the dates, the draft existed first, while Delilah's work only came later. The outline is the same. Even the name is similar! Unless the draft is made up, Delilah will definitely be accused of plagiarism!"

"Jeez!" someone exclaimed, "I heard her case is about her abandoning Mr. Newhouses's biological daughter... And now she has committed plagiarism! What else do we not know about her?"

The place soon fell into chaos. All the journalists wanted to fight for the first-hand news.

Lily stepped forward to calm them down. The venue only regained its peace after a while.

"We have solid proof that Delilah committed plagiarism! She stopped writing more after releasing the last book of the Whirling Lights series. Many thought that she had exhausted her talent, but in reality, she only managed to steal nine drafts of Dancing Lights. She failed to steal the tenth book, which is the finale!

"My student, Anya Campbell, was a talented writer, but Delilah killed her! She even replaced her daughter with someone else, causing her to live a hard life..."

Whitney was emotional and choking. "Delilah didn't only steal Anya's drafts, but she even stole her daughter's life! She must pay the price for this! I'll get to the bottom of this to claim justice for her!" Lily went up and held her, patting her shoulder.

Lily and SL Publishing's legal team handled the rest of the press conference.

Delilah's reputation was ruined. All the Whirling Lights novels were taken off the market and destroyed. All the films that she wrote were blacklisted.

Delilah had been staying at the Newhouse villa before she was officially arrested.

She was unusually calm when she was arrested. She walked out of the house quietly and turned her head to glance at the house before entering the police car. She looked like she was bidding farewell to the first half of her life-she also seemed like she was looking for something.

A figure suddenly appeared!

Wilfred ran out and pointed a gun at her head!

The maids watching were shocked and ran away while screaming.

The officers took out their guns and pointed at him.

"Ms. Newhouse!" One of the officers said calmly, "Calm down. Ms. Roper is a criminal. We must bring her with us to be questioned following the law... If you shoot her, the nature of the case will change!" However, Wilfred seemed like he could not hear a thing.

He stared right at Delilah, shaking in rage.

Delilah looked at him with complicated feelings.

She forced a smile after a long time. She recalled the day they got married. She had been under the impression they had married out of love, but never had she expected the journey to be so hard. In the end, i destroyed her life.

She loved him. She could not tolerate the fact that he was with Anya first and having a child with her.

Falling for this man must be the most foolish mistake she had ever made in her life...

As she made more and more mistakes, they kept snowballing. Now that she thought about it, Anya was not the one she was most sorry for, and neither was Maisie or Wilfred. It was her son, Harvey.

"Mr. Newhouse!" the officer shouted. "Please trust the law and put down your gun! The law will give a fair judgment!"

"Ha... Fair?" He forced a smile and became teary. "Can you bring Anya back? Can you turn back time so that I won't make the mistake?!"

Wilfred gnashed his teeth. "Delilah! You made me lose Anya and treat someone else's child as mine... You should go to hell! I'll... send you there myself!"

Chapter 1887

Chapter 1887

"Calm down, Mr. Newhouse!"

The crowd gasped as the officers hurried forward, guns drawn, attempting to restore order amid the chaos.

Unexpectedly, a flicker of relief spread across Wilfred's face.

Amidst the chaos, the distinct sound of a gun being loaded resonated, mirroring the clarity of his resolve to end Delilah's life.

Suddenly, the officers formed a barrier in front of him.

"I have no intention of harming the innocent," he declared coldly. "Step aside. I'll accept the consequences after dealing with this ruthless woman!"

"Think it through, Mr. Newhouse!"

"I anticipated this day..." His voice strained. "Anya's unjust death... Even if it's for her, I must condemn this woman to hell!"

Unexpectedly, a bright voice interjected, "If you're truly doing this for her, value your own life!"

A pang gripped his heart, and he stood frozen in place.

His mind was blank as though plunged into a void. He felt a gentle hand on his back and heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Almost as if compelled, he obediently lowered his hand, gazing at the woman before him with a surge of emotions.

When he finally spoke, tears flowed freely.

"Mr. Newhouse..." Maisie hesitated before uttering those words.

"If this is truly for the one you love, then live well." Her voice, soft yet firm, delivered each word like a heavy blow to his heart. "She's watching from above, hoping nothing happens to you. Are you aware of that?"

"Maisie..."

"Give me the gun." Her voice retained its soft strength. "It's not worth it for you to go through with this!"

Although Wilfred was hesitant, he relinquished his grip on the gun. Seizing the moment, Daniel charged forward and disarmed him.

Wilfred stared at them for an extended moment. He collapsed to the ground, emotions erupting in a torrent.

Covering his head with his arms, he wailed, a sound that hushed the onlookers as if encapsulating all the sorrow in the world.

Maisie choked back her tears, leaning on Daniel's shoulder. Helplessness crept over her like entwining vines, ensnaring her heart.

"I'm sorry, Maisie!" Wilfred's wail echoed. "I made a mistake... I made you suffer! But I truly wanted to end her. I did!

"She ruined me! She ruined Anya! She ruined you!"

Maisie approached and squatted beside him.

He was the closest blood relative, yet their relationship seemed worlds apart.

Delilah had indeed wrecked them-destroying the first half of her life and tearing apart her family.

The 20 years had created an unbridgeable gap between Maisie and her father.

In reality, she should be the one thirsting for Delilah's death the most.

Maisie slowly lifted her head and pondered if Anya observed them from above. Perhaps Anya wouldn't want to witness events unfolding in this manner...

Chapter 1888

Chapter 1888

Maisie took a deep breath and slowly placed her hands on Wilfred's arm, helping him up. It was hard to make up for lost time, but they could never go back in time. The only thing they could do was to look ahead.

"Please trust me. God won't let go of any vicious people," she said softly. "You kill her, and you'll die because of her. It's not worth it!"

"Maisie..."

"Go home." Her clear eyes were filled with energy. She smiled at him. "Your journey is long. I'll walk with you slowly, okay?"

Shock flashed across his face, followed by tears dropping. He did not want to keep losing himself in front of his daughter, so he quickly wiped his tears away with his sleeve.

Daniel arranged for people to drive the car over. Maisie helped Wilfred into the car, and they left.

Before leaving, she instinctively turned her head to look. She saw Delilah in handcuffs, dumbfounded.

At that moment, her resentment seemed to have subsided a little. She forgot who said that the biggest revenge was not endless resentment but living better than the person one resented. The next half of her life would be tough, while the next half of Maisie's life would be spent in love.

After the situation calmed down, Maisie and Daniel held a grand wedding on Rose Island.

By then, she had become a popular author with two best-selling books. She also sorted out Anya's Dancing Lights and published it, providing the readers with the perfect ending to the book.

On the wedding day, the roses on the island were blooming, resembling a burning fire. Her white wedding dress swayed in the wind, and she was happy among the red roses.

She leaned next to Daniel, smiling brightly. The sunset and ocean behind them made the moment of happiness seem to last forever.

A year later.

Daniel was over the moon that Maisie gave birth to a set of twins. He carefully carried their son and daughter in each hand, not wanting to let them go.

The moment the crying noise came from the delivery room, his eyes were teary. He was heartbroken for the pain she had gone through, but the birth of their children made him burst out in tears of joy. He said Curtisa was back and that she brought Curtis along.

Maisie smiled and shook her head. There was only one Curtisa in this world, so they would not give their daughter that name. Curtisa did not return-she had been watching them up there and had sent them two angels.

"I hope that their lives will be smooth sailing and worry-free." Maisie looked at the two babies. "The girl is Cammy, the boy's Aidy. How's that?"

Daniel gave a long kiss on her forehead and smiled gently. "It's your call."

"Mm-hmm, that's pretty good!" Toph clapped. "But who is older among them?"

Maisie smiled and said, "The boy came out first. He's the elder brother. The girl came a couple of minutes later."

"That's great." Zuko chuckled. "That's different from our family. Sephy is the elder sister. She now looks like a big sister, always ordering her brother around!"

A few days before Daniel and Maisie's wedding, great news had come from Centrolis. Lina had given birth to a son-they now had a daughter and a son!

"Her brother is over a year old now. It's the best age to order him around!" Toph joked, "If she doesn't order her brother around now, how will he listen to her when he grows up?"

They laughed, but Zuko's face changed. He realized Sephy had left the room when they were not watching!

"Sephy!" He frowned and ran out quickly. "Sephy, where are you?"

Chapter 1889

Chapter 1889

Time flew by. Persephone seemed to have it all—a world that appeared perfect to everyone around her. However, beneath the surface, her life was far from smooth sailing.

Persephone was independent-minded from a young age. Her parents would be frequently summoned to the school due to her behavior since primary school. Despite their high social status, Zuko and Lina had to comply with the teachers' instructions. Persephone had received her share of lessons after returning home. Quick to learn, she cleverly avoided involving her parents when teachers wanted to meet them. Her support system extended beyond her biological parents to include Toph, Arya, Chris, and Lena. Occasionally Cordelia, Zephyr, Linda, and Nicholas would join the mix.

Persephone had even managed to enlist the presence of Daniel from Cumulus City with just a phone call.

As a teenager, Persephone's thoughts took a more peculiar turn. Bursting with curiosity and a rebellious spirit, she defied her parents, especially her mother. The clashes between mother and daughter created chaos at home.

However, as she grew older, a transformation occurred.

She unexpectedly became quiet, shedding the mischievousness of her youth and the rebellious nature of her teenage years. No longer entertaining peculiar thoughts, she embraced maturity and tranquility.

In her free time, she read, painted, and played the piano, exuding both courtesy and intimidation.

This transformation had been triggered by a profound loss at the age of 16-her best friend.

After completing her university studies, she would often find herself seated by the window, gazing into the distance and reminiscing about the day she first met her best friend.

Back then.

Persephone was just a kindergartener, and her brother was merely a year old. The occasion was a visit to Cumulus City with her father to see Maisie's twins. While the adults engaged in conversation and laughter inside the house, she sneaked out, driven by boredom.

When she encountered Greta Wiley, a girl from Cumulus City, they instantly connected. Sharing the same age and interests, they joyfully played in the courtyard and ran under the sun. Persephone discovered that Greta's mother worked as a maid for the Kinglakes, struggling to settle her husband's gambling debts with money earned through sweat and tears.

Unfortunately, Greta grew up in an abusive household, enduring her father's anger whenever he lost money, leaving her with visible bruises.

During her brief stay in Cumulus City, Persephone spent every day with Greta, forming an unbreakable bond. Reluctant to part ways, Zuko eventually brought her back to Centrolis.

From that point onward, Persephone had a constant companion in Greta, who proved to be loyal and caring.

The Hamertons welcomed her warmly, and Persephone never treated her as merely a maid. The two girls grew up together, attending school side by side, sharing secrets, and remaining inseparable even during Persephone's rebellious years.

However, the happiness abruptly ended when Persephone turned 16. Like a car breaking down, her life took an unexpected turn-Greta went missing.

She vanished without a trace as if erased from existence. Despite exhaustive efforts by the Hamertons to find her, investigations revealed she had been kidnapped and likely taken to the border. Unfortunately, the search reached a dead end, leading them to reluctantly abandon it.

Persephone later discovered the painful truth-Greta's own parents were responsible for her abduction.

Burdened by another gambling debt, they intended to trade Greta to settle it. Greta's mother, weakened and unable to protect her child, succumbed to her husband's wishes. Even the Hamertons couldn't intervene, as Greta's biological parents insisted on taking her back.

Greta was taken away effortlessly, leaving Persephone devastated.

Despite the passage of many years, Persephone never gave up hope of finding her friend.

Lost in her thoughts one day, a knock on her door brought her back to reality.

The door opened to reveal a familiar face wearing a big, silly smile. "Sis!"

Persephone glanced at him and smiled.

Chapter 1890

Chapter 1890

Theodore dashed over to her mysteriously and dropped off a test paper. He would take the written and interview tests for prestigious schools overseas in another week.

"Sis, guide me through this practice test, and I'll tell you a secret..." Theodore inherited Zuko's distinctive features but was a spitting image of his mischievous Uncle Toph. "One test for one secret. Fair deal, right?"

Persephone shrugged, uninterested.

"Hey, I'm serious!"

"Could you let me concentrate for a while?"

"Seriously, sis, don't you believe me?"

Wherever Persephone turned her head, Theodore followed.

After several rounds, Theodore couldn't hold back. "Fine, I'll tell you first..."

A hint of triumph curved Persephone's lips. She had her little brother under her thumb since childhood.

"You have to help me with the test after I tell you!"

"Hmm..." Persephone twirled the pen in her hand. "Depends on how valuable your secret is!"

Theodore pursed his lips and whispered in her ear, "There's news about Greta!"

Persephone stared at him wide-eyed.

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure." Theodore scratched his head. "A friend of mine, um... His dad does business near the border. He went along this break, and he accidentally overheard... But I can't confirm if it's Greta. I've shared her details with my friend before, and he thinks the person he saw matches her. So..."

Persephone looked serious, determination gleaming in her beautiful eyes. She stood up abruptly and dragged a small suitcase out of the closet.

It left Theodore stunned.

"Sis, you-"

"I'm going to find her!"

"Don't be rash!" Theodore hurriedly stopped her. "Regardless of the reliability of that information or even if it's her, you can't go! That's Flinge, the central region of the five provinces by the border! It's too far from Centrolis, and no one from our family is around there!

"Calm down and tell our parents about this first. Let them send someone to look for her or figure out a solution. What do you think?"

Persephone sat down silently, feeling restless.

"Oh, there's one more thing..." Theodore shifted his gaze.

"What is it?"

"Grandpa Zephyr and Grandpa Nicholas... are currently lecturing your boyfriend. Do you want to go save him?"