Ch. 1901..1910

Chapter 1901

Chapter 1901

"Then... how should I respond?"

Morpheus straightened up, unsure whether to frown or smile at the naive girl before him.

"They'll definitely inquire about what you did with me tonight," he said.

Persephone blushed and shrank into herself.

So, should she say he was great? She was inexperienced and didn't quite get these things, but in those romance novels she had secretly read before, the male leads were usually described as "great."... "Oh, I see," she murmured, her voice tiny like a mosquito.

"You might not fully understand." Morpheus lowered his head to look at her, emphasizing each word. "You need to tell Kourtney, I'm short, small, and quick. I'm done before three minutes is even up. And I look strong, but I'm actually not strong at all!"

"Huh?" Persephone widened her eyes, involuntarily gasping. She stupidly looked at him, noticing a mischievous smirk on his handsome face.

Short, small, and quick, done before three minutes... Even though inexperienced, she knew what he meant. Her face turned crimson, not just her cheeks but her ears and the base of her neck.

"What's wrong?" Morpheus was puzzled. "It's just a few words. Is it that hard to say?"

"It's not... You..." Persephone muttered, "It's just that what you said is a bit... too..."

She wanted to say "explicit", but changed it to "crude."

Morpheus chuckled. "I'm a rough person. How eloquent do you expect me to be?"

"Okay, okay," Persephone sighed helplessly. "But..."

"What about it?"

"Doesn't it hurt your pride?"

Morpheus was taken aback, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

Compared to his pride, he didn't want to be bothered by women like Kourtney. Moreover, thanks to her, he had already earned a reputation. Did these few words matter?

"I don't care." Morpheus turned around, squatting to pack up the duffel bag on the floor. Inside were his things for matches. He took out his boxing gloves, shorts, and towels and placed them in a basket near the washing machine.

"This is my life." He shrugged. "Matches, money, and signing life-or-death contracts.

"I don't care how others see me, and I have no intention of finding a woman. So, this little thing won't hurt my pride."

Persephone said nothing.

"Then..." She asked again after a while, "What if others look down on you?"

"I already said I don't care."

"But you just said if I stay with you, you'll protect me! So if someone looks down on you for this, how will you protect me?"

"What do you mean?" Morpheus raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You want to see if I can do it? Then tell them your true feelings?"

Persephone was dumbfounded, and the blush she had just managed to fade returned.

Morpheus laughed heartily, then walked over to her. He suddenly had the urge to pat her head, like how some people feel like petting cute cats or dogs, but he suppressed it. "Don't worry." His voice was rough yet gentle. "Even if I'm not good at anything else, I have a strong punch. They will gossip about me but won't dare to mess with me!" Persephone's tense nerves slowly relaxed. She looked up, meeting his calm gaze, and found a strong sense of determination within them that calmed her heart.

Chapter 1902

Chapter 1902

"You can add more to the story tomorrow."

"What?"

Morpheus smirked. "Say I'm not just mediocre but a freak, and I hit you after we were done!"

Persephone was once again slack-jawed, then feigned a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Going to such extremes just to keep women away... Quite the strategy. But I'm not injured. Will they believe me?" Morpheus looked her up and down. "Just say the injury is in a non-visible area."

"Huh?"

Morpheus held his head. He couldn't stand her bewildered look anymore. Since she arrived, this was her constant expression.

"Where... Where can't I be seen?"

"Figure it out yourself!"

"I can't think of anywhere..."

Morpheus grew impatient. "Just say I bit your... tits!"

"You!" Persephone was embarrassed and angry. Her face flushed as she tried to kick him with her arms crossed defensively.

Morpheus dodged effortlessly and went about working the washing machine as if nothing happened. As he turned away, he chuckled.

The next day, Kourtney and Jim showed up as expected while Morpheus was away.

Persephone recited exactly as Morpheus had advised. Since she had never done anything like that before, she felt extremely uncomfortable saying those things, almost on the verge of tears.

But it was this discomfort and embarrassment that made her acting seem natural and convincing enough to deceive them.

Kourtney, experienced in these matters, half believed her words but couldn't find any loopholes for the moment. She offered a few words of consolation and left with Jim.

Persephone breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that no one would disturb her for the time being.

She spent a few days with Morpheus in peace. During these days, Morpheus took care of her meals.

Morpheus had never taken care of anyone before, and he used to eat without much thought. Suddenly having someone else around didn't change his eating habits.

It was Persephone who found it difficult to adapt. She didn't know how to coexist in the same room with this rough man. They couldn't even eat together. She was used to eating slowly, balanced meals followed by coffee or tea, along with a small unsweetened dessert.

What Morpheus brought back, however, was a whole roasted chicken, large chunks of beef, and a pancake bigger than her face. Persephone struggled to swallow, just taking a few bites randomly before retreating to the side.

One day, when Morpheus returned from the boxing ring at night, he found no food on the table, and Persephone was lying on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

His expression darkened. "No dinner?"

Persephone sat up, her gaze innocent. "You weren't back, and I didn't know what to eat..."

Morpheus took a deep breath.

Today's fight was particularly tough. His opponent was an outlaw who had spent ten years in prison before coming to the underground arena. Prison hadn't dulled his edges. Instead, it had turned him into a beast.

Morpheus had to exert considerable effort to kick him off the platform and ended up injuring himself, with muscles in his back torn like paper. Each breath hurt his ribs.

The pain made him irritable, and he glared at Persephone. "You can't make something yourself if I'm not here? There's everything in the fridge, but you'd rather lie here than prepare something?!" "I" Before Persephone could explain, Morpheus stormed onto the balcony.

"I told you to put away the clothes before I left!" His furious voice sounded from the balcony. Then he shifted to the kitchen. "And these dishes from yesterday... Don't you think they need washing? "How old are you? Still waiting for others to serve you, Miss?"

Chapter 1903

Chapter 1903

Persephone froze. No one had ever yelled at her like that before. Besides, she was a princess used to being waited on! Since she was a child, she never had to change her own slippers. Someone was always there to hand them over as soon as she entered the door.

She lowered her head, murmuring softly, "I've never done these things."

"If you've never done it, learn!" Morpheus' voice grew louder. "When living in someone else's house, voluntarily helping with chores is just basic courtesy! Didn't your parents teach you?"

Persephone pressed her lips together, staring straight at him with tears swirling in her eyes.

"Why involve my parents?" Her voice trembled. "Just say it's about me."

Morpheus glanced at her, feeling annoyed and helpless.

"Besides, I really haven't done these things!" Persephone became more upset. "I thought since you were coming home late today, I'd prepare dinner... but I don't know how! I... I wanted to order takeout, but I don't have my phone. They took it away and lost it..."

Persephone felt disheartened thinking about her recent surreal experiences. She admitted everything was self-inflicted. She hated herself for being so disobedient, acting rashly, causing worry to her family, and landing herself in danger.

If she could choose again, she wouldn't have acted so recklessly!

She wailed like a child on the couch as if tears could wash away all her grievances.

Morpheus was at a loss. Shouldn't girls cry with a delicate touch? Persephone's crying seemed like the sky was falling!

He felt awkward, not knowing what to do, and stood there dumbly.

Comforting Persephone might be more difficult than today's match.

"Hey, you..." Morpheus hesitated for a while, awkwardly squeezing out, "Stop crying.'

Persephone ignored him and cried even harder. "I don't know where to put the clothes, so I left them outside since it didn't rain today. Can't they wait for you to come back and put them away?" "Okay, okay..." Morpheus surrendered.

"I've never washed dishes at home! My parents never let me! Why should I wash them here for you?"

Morpheus widened his eyes and raised his hands in surrender. "Yes, it's all my fault..."

"And you yelled at me so loudly!"

Morpheus covered his face. He regretted bringing back this unreasonable, louder-than-life monster from the boxing ring.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Morpheus became alert, and Persephone stopped crying. She looked at him while he looked at the door, and a glint of something flashed in his eyes. The knock echoed in the quiet room, and then a voice followed. "Morpheus! You home?"

Morpheus' expression relaxed slightly.

He opened the door, and the person entering was almost as tall as him but noticeably thinner, like a paper-thin person. He had heavy makeup on his face, and when he smiled, it seemed like his false eyelashes were about to fall off.

Seeing Persephone sitting on the sofa, he greeted her warmly. "Is this my new sister-in-law?"

Persephone was taken aback.

Chapter 1904

Chapter 1904

To say this person was a woman, the rough voice and height and appearance clearly screamed 'man'. To call him a man... Well, he was dressed in women's clothing, wearing a wig and strutting in high heels. Persephone was a bit frightened, so she hugged herself and tried to hide behind Morpheus.

"This is Wynn Jeter." Morpheus turned and told her in a low voice, "Just call him Wynn. He's quite helpful. If you can't find me for anything, you can ask him. It's the same."

Wynn smiled and tried to shake hands with Persephone, but just as his hand reached out, he seemed to realize something. He winced awkwardly and pulled his hand back.

"Hey, did you lovebirds just have a spat?" Wynn asked. "I could hear everything next door! Did you bully her, Morpheus? Look at how much she's crying..."

"It's nothing," Morpheus replied casually. "Just some bickering."

"Um... you both haven't had dinner yet?" Wynn placed the insulated box he brought on the table, carefully watching their expressions. "I happened to make extra, so I brought it for you! These are all local specialties, girl. I'm not sure if they're good, but feel free to try. If you like them, I'll take you out for an authentic meal next time!

"Morpheus, go ahead and eat."

Morpheus remained silent.

"Uh..." Persephone felt a bit embarrassed. Although Wynn looked peculiar, his smile was genuine. Moreover, Morpheus letting him in indicated trust.

She looked down, only for her stomach to growl, breaking the room's silence.

Wynn smiled, quickly ushered Persephone to sit and eat, and tactfully excused himself.

Persephone glanced at Morpheus. Seeing his expression still blank, she started eating by herself.

This was the best meal she had since arriving at Flinge. She hadn't grasped the situation during the first few days and had fast food every day. Then she got kidnapped by Kourtney's people and ended up at Morpheus' place... The food she had had with Morpheus was, well...

"Mmm, it's delicious!" Persephone couldn't help but praise. "Hey, turns out the taste here isn't that heavy, huh? I thought everyone here loved meat, seeing you always eating it. Morpheus, why don't you taste these dishes? They're really good!"

Morpheus grunted and sat down to eat with her.

He sneaked a glance at her. All the hard feelings from earlier seemed to vanish with the food she swallowed. She was smiling right now, eating joyfully, and seemed revitalized.

He didn't expect her to be this easy to please-some good food was all it took to make her happy.

Morpheus inadvertently smirked, a hint of tenderness shimmering in his eyes.

In the following days, whenever Morpheus wasn't home, Wynn would keep Persephone company to pass time.

Persephone could sense he was kind-hearted but remained curious about why he dressed that way. Wynn openly admitted, "Because I'm a little mentally disturbed!"

Persephone was stunned, standing stiffer than a utility pole under the blazing sun.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not a pervert!" Wynn stamped his foot and reached out to her. Over these days, they had become quite close and even walked arm in arm like good sisters when out.

"I wanted to be a girl when I was young, but my mom born me a boy." He smiled openly. "Later, I found out it's called gender dysphoria, a mental illness. I've seen numerous therapists, tried to change, but it didn't work. Then... I simply followed my heart!"

"You never thought about surgery?" Persephone glanced at him. "With technology being so advanced now, such procedures aren't very painful."

"I don't have the money, missy!" Wynn chuckled. "My family isn't well-off, lots of siblings to feed. My mom doesn't have spare money for me.

"And besides, they all hate me..." His voice lowered. "They think I'm a freak and don't like me coming home."

Persephone's heart clenched, looking at him with a bit of sympathy.

"What about you?" Wynn seemed nervous. "Do you think I'm a disgusting freak too?"

Chapter 1905

Chapter 1905

Persephone paused for a moment, then shook her head with a smile.

Wynn looked somewhat surprised, quietly gazing at her.

"You're not a monster." Persephone's voice was soft yet firm. "You're a good person."

"You..."

"And who says you're disgusting? It's just your lifestyle that's different from others. How's that disgusting? It's not your fault that you like dressing in women's clothes and pretending to be one."

Wynn was stunned for a while, his eyes gradually turning red. His lips moved, but nothing came out. Instead, he tightly held her hand.

"I... I have something else." He sobbed, "After you hear it, maybe you'll find it disgusting... My family is poor, and I had to start working early to support them. But being so peculiar, no one wanted to hire me. Then, I accidentally found that if I dressed in women's clothing and walked on this street, those perverted men would come looking for me... so I just..."

Persephone froze, not knowing what he hadn't finished saying. But it probably wasn't something good.

Seeing Wynn's avoiding gaze, her heart ached. Her upbringing had been too sheltered. She didn't know the hardships of life, unable to understand that a simple desire to become a woman could be so difficult to achieve.

The Hamertons had protected her too well. She had been so sheltered that she had no idea the world had such a filthy and ugly side.

"No." After a while, she lightly patted his hand. "I don't think you're disgusting. I just feel sorry for you."

Wynn couldn't hold back anymore, tears streaming down his face. His words were indistinct, but Persephone caught a few. "They... all look down on me, only Morpheus... respects me. "Now there's you too!"

He burst into loud sobs and drew attention from passersby, startling Persephone.

"Don't... Don't cry..." Persephone gently pushed him. "Hey, stop crying..."

"You and Morpheus are truly the best to me in this whole town!"

"Could you stop crying, please?"

"Waaah!"

Persephone shielded her face with her hand.

"I swear!" Wynn suddenly lifted his tear-stained face, solemnly declaring, "I'll give my all for both of you, even if it costs me my life!"

"Please, no, no, no!" Persephone was taken aback. "That's too intense."

"Not at all." Wynn wiped away his tears. "If anyone dares to harm you two, I won't stand by!"

Persephone awkwardly laughed.

His sudden enthusiasm was like a tornado, making it a bit hard for her to handle.

"Let's go!" Wynn grabbed her again.

"Where to?"

"I earned money yesterday!" He smiled brightly. "Let me treat you to something nice. Let's have authentic local cuisine!"

Wynn was different from Persephone's past friends.

Everyone on this street was also unlike anyone she had known before.

Her previous circle of friends matched her background. Everyone was affluent, attended prestigious schools, and mingled with the elite.

This was an entirely different world. They lived at the lowest rung, where there was blood, fighting, scheming, and conspiracy, but also the brilliance and warmth of humanity. They adapted to the harsh environment in their own way, breaking their original selves and reshaping them into various forms.

Morpheus had told her, "They're detestable, yet also pitiful."

From Persephone's perspective, she couldn't completely understand this statement. She often thought of Greta, inquiring about her from the neighbors, but found nothing.

Had Greta also become pitiful and hateful?

Just the thought made her heart ache, almost bringing her to tears.

One day, when Morpheus returned home, he saw Persephone sitting on the carpet, constantly fiddling with the red string on her hand. He frowned, thumped the roasted chicken on the table, and sullenly grabbed two sets of utensils.

Chapter 1906

Chapter 1906

"Freshly roasted." He tore off a drumstick and handed it to her. "Eat up!"

Persephone was momentarily stunned. It seemed like he was always serving either chicken or beef. Did he have a grudge against these animals from his past life? Morpheus ripped into the chicken breast, eating voraciously. He glanced at her and couldn't help but frown. Watching Persephone eat was genuinely concerning.

"Don't like it?"

"Hmm?" Persephone was taken aback.

Her genuine feeling was: 'Actually, not a fan.'

But her mind reminded her, 'Watch your words. You're not on par with this rugged guy!'

As such, she started with a sweet smile. "You seem... to really enjoy these, huh?"

"Can't say I'm particularly fond of them," Morpheus replied nonchalantly. "Chicken and beef are rich in protein. That's how every boxer eats."

"Are you trying to train me into a boxer?"

Morpheus gave her the look of someone looking at a fool. "If you step into the ring, you'll be beaten to death, the boss will be in trouble, and the audience will die laughing."

"You..."

"Eat more!" His voice lowered as he tore off another chicken leg for her. "Too thin!"

Persephone's heart stirred. She remembered stories Cordelia told about Zephyr's younger days. When her grandfather hid his identity and her grandmother had just married him, he used to serve meat like this to her, saying, "Eat more, you're too thin."

She smiled, playing with the chicken in her bowl.

Sensing her smiling gaze, Morpheus felt puzzled. For some reason, his heart began to beat faster.

He turned to the kitchen to grab a cold beer and chugged it down, concealing his awkwardness.

After a while, he muttered softly, "Tomorrow... I'll get you something you like to eat."

"You know what I like to eat?"

"Wynn mentioned you like local cuisine." He glanced at her. "I'll bring some from the restaurant tomorrow."

"Forget it." She pouted suddenly. "Ah, I'm like a little cat or dog you keep at home, just waiting for you to feed..."

Persephone cautiously put down her utensils, tentatively asking him, "I... I want to order takeout by myself, so you don't have to worry about me. I can eat what I want, okay?"

"Oh." Morpheus grunted.

Persephone tried to please him, "So, you agree?"

Morpheus looked up at her. Agree to what? Her ordering takeout? Could she even do that?

"Um, Morpheus..." Persephone pressed on. "I have nothing here right now, and every day at home is so incredibly boring. I can't even order a cup of milk tea! Can you... Can you help me buy a phone?" Morpheus' gaze darkened gradually.

"I don't need anything fancy, not the latest model!" Persephone smiled. "With a phone, I could pass time at home and take care of my own meals!" Morpheus remained silent, just gazing at her.

"Don't worry!" Persephone assured, "I won't owe you money for the phone. I'll give you a promissory note, and when I'm back home, I'll pay you double! "I... I want a phone to contact my family..." She scratched her head. "It's been so many days, my parents must be worried sick. I don't want them to fret! "Morpheus..."

The prolonged silence made the air around them feel frozen. Persephone's heart raced, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "Morpheus, do... Do you agree?"

A cold glint suddenly flashed in Morpheus' eyes, an ominous look on his sharply defined face.

Before Persephone could react, she heard him slam the utensils on the table and grab her wrist!

"You want a phone?" He enunciated each word, glaring at her. "Hah! To call the police?"

Chapter 1907

Chapter 1907

Persephone was frozen in place. Morpheus' imposing presence made her heart race. Despite his lack of expression, his calm demeanor was more terrifying than a fierce expression. "No, no..." Her voice trembled. "I just wanted to contact my family to reassure them!"

"Once you connect with your family, can you guarantee they won't call the police?" Each word seemed like ice coming out of Morpheus' mouth. "With communication so advanced now, once you send a signal, the authorities will definitely track this place down!"

Persephone looked at him nervously, her heart pounding.

"This place is entangled with various powers. It's not as simple as making a police call to resolve things! If calling the police could get you home, I would've done it the first day I met you!"

"I didn't mean to-" Persephone's eyes welled up, tears streaming down. "Let go, it hurts!"

Morpheus paused as he realized he was clutching her slender arm, leaving red marks.

He released his grip. Persephone wriggled backward, leaping to the couch like she was escaping a demon. She huddled up as she looked at him in terror.

At that moment, a faint light emitted from the pendant on the red string she wore.

Persephone froze. She didn't want him to notice it, so she instinctively used her hand to shield it.

However, this gesture caught Morpheus' eye, causing his brow to furrow slightly. Did she cherish that string so much? Even after being hurt, she still protected it? In that case, the person who gifted it to her must bear an unusual weight in her heart...

Morpheus took a deep breath.

The atmosphere in the room became extremely tense.

After a while, he returned to his room with a bottle of spray.

Persephone didn't know what he was up to. All she saw was Morpheus suddenly extending his hand as if he was about to grab her, and she shrieked in terror.

"You..." Morpheus glared at her. "Come here!"

"What do you want?!"

"Give me your hand!" Morpheus' voice was stern.

Persephone burst into tears. At the same time, she felt the couch sink slightly beside her, and a warm, broad hand covered her wrist. His movement was forceful yet gentle, clasping her small hand in his palm. Before she could react, a soothing coolness spread across her wrist.

An herbal scent filled the air.

Morpheus gently massaged her wrist as if dealing with a disobedient little cat.

"This spray is for treating bruises." He spoke softly. "I... I hurt your wrist, so..."

He paused, finding it difficult to apologize as he had never apologized to anyone in his life. Eventually, he looked into her eyes and said, "I'm sorry."

Persephone's heart jolted. She tried to retract her hand, but his large palm enveloped her small one firmly. She could only let him massage and soothe her hand.

"It's... It's not that serious," she murmured. "It just hurts a bit. Not enough to be considered 'bruised"."

Morpheus remained silent, continuing his actions on her hand.

He knew it wasn't that serious. In truth, he only took this chance to hold her hand...

The moment this thought crossed his mind, he felt dirty, and his heartbeat became irregular. Glancing at her, he suddenly released her hand. Persephone was caught off guard.

"That's enough." He turned his face away. "Don't worry. There won't be any red marks on your wrist."

"Oh..." Persephone sat quietly on the couch, no longer mentioning anything about wanting a phone.

Chapter 1908

Chapter 1908

Persephone's hair was a bit disheveled, and Morpheus' mind was in a bit of a muddle too.

Kourtney and Jim had abducted her, and she had been with him all these days. He also restricted her movements. Had it suffocated her? He had been so harsh on her too...

Morpheus composed himself and cleared his throat, speaking in a calmer tone. "If you want to contact your family, I can help you."

Persephone's eyes instantly lit up...

In the afternoon, Morpheus took her out, weaving through the streets and arriving at a small convenience store on the corner.

Persephone looked somewhat surprised at the slightly worn-out place in front of her. When she was in Centrolis before, she rarely went to convenience stores, and when she did, those stores were spacious and bright, with shelves full of products in attractive packaging.

This one... The location wasn't great, almost no foot traffic, and the items on the shelves, much like the store's owner, seemed lackluster.

The only advantage was it seemed clean, despite the shack-like appearance.

"This is George," Morpheus introduced the shop owner to her. "You can make a call here, free of charge."

Persephone was taken aback as George Kovac retrieved a very old-fashioned landline phone from under the counter.

"I've never seen anything like this." She widened her eyes.

"You're seeing it now, aren't you?" Morpheus raised an eyebrow. "There are plenty of things in this world you haven't seen!"

"Are you sure this thing works?"

George chuckled warmly, inviting her inside. Once she stepped in, a strange action from George left her puzzled-he closed the shop door!

Persephone couldn't help but glance at Morpheus, who remained unruffled, showing no sign of concern.

"Make the call quickly," he said. "Remember, don't take too long."

"Okay..."

Morpheus left her in the shop and stepped outside with George.

Persephone frowned, not understanding why making a phone call felt like she was sneaking around.

However, she didn't have time to dwell on it. She took a deep breath and quickly dialed her mom's number.

"Mom... Mom!" The call connected swiftly, and upon hearing Lina's voice, Persephone felt a mix of emotions-excitement and sadness, too overwhelmed to speak.

Lina paused for a moment, then unbelievably exclaimed, "Is it... Sephy? Sephy!"

"Mom, it's me!"

"Where are you now?" Lina's voice was hoarse with worry. "You, child, never give us peace of mind!"

Tears welled up in Persephone's eyes instantly.

Soon, there were more voices on the other end-the worried tones of her family. Zuko was brought in, followed by Theodore, and it seemed like even Zephyr and Cordelia's voices could be heard... Persephone couldn't stop crying. She had so much to say, yet at this crucial moment, she couldn't manage to utter a single word.

Amidst the chaos on the call, she heard the convenience store door click open. She turned toward the sound and saw Morpheus walking in, his gaze complex as he looked at her.

"It's getting late," he softly reminded her. "I told you, don't stay on the call too long."

Tears still streaked Persephone's face. Her family's anxious voices echoed on the other end of the call.

"Don't worry..." She collected herself, summarizing briefly, "I'm fine here in Flinge. Though I've had a bit of trouble, it's all resolved. I'll call you regularly to reassure you all. You really don't need to worry about me!"

Chapter 1909

Chapter 1909

Zephyr's voice was low. "Sephy, our men are on their way, and Nicholas has already intervened, making contact with the factions over there... No matter what happens, don't be afraid. We're here for you!" Persephone's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to look at the person beside her.

Morpheus remained expressionless. Although the phone was old-fashioned, it didn't transmit sound. Even in this small, quiet room, he couldn't hear what was being said through the receiver. Besides, he had been constantly glancing out the window as if on alert.

Persephone remembered his words. The situation here couldn't be resolved by calling the police, and she shouldn't endanger more people.

She couldn't comprehend what it all meant, but the situation was likely far more complex than she imagined. She was grateful to have him during this time, ensuring her safe survival in this perilous situation. But if the Hamertons dispatched a large number of people...

Persephone hesitated and said softly on the call, "Grandpa Zephyr, I'm not afraid. I've realized how stubborn and reckless I've been, making you all worry. I'm truly sorry."

"Silly child, what are you saying? Your safety is the most important."

"I'm safe now." She chuckled, glancing at Morpheus. "And I'm doing fine. Someone is specifically taking care of me!"

Morpheus paused and turned to look at her, his expression difficult to interpret.

"So, you really don't need to worry about me." Persephone lowered her voice. "Moreover, this place is someone else's territory... Sometimes, a powerful dragon cannot defeat a local snake, Grandpa Zephyr. You should understand this logic.

"Alright, I won't talk with you anymore!" She smiled and regained her cheerful demeanor. "I'll call you on time. I'm hanging up for today!"

"Hey, Sephy!" Lina urgently called out, "Do you have enough money on you? Where are you staying now? Are you safe?"

"I'm safe, very safe!" Persephone gently reassured her mother. The money issue did awaken her concern. She didn't have any money left!

She had been freeloading at Morpheus' place all this while and had yet to understand the hardship without money. Despite that, she couldn't keep going on like this.

She glanced cautiously at Morpheus and whispered, cupping the receiver, "I want to—"

As soon as she began, Morpheus discerned her intention. He coldly said, "Not happening!"

"I haven't even said what it is!"

"You want your family to send you money, right?"

Persephone froze, and the next moment, she succumbed to Morpheus' overwhelming presence.

"Mom, I have money," she said into the phone. "Don't worry. I won't mistreat myself! Alright, this phone belongs to someone else. Don't call this number. I'll contact you, okay!" With that, she hung up the call.

Morpheus crossed his arms, his eyes slightly narrowed. Persephone wasn't exactly dumb. She knew to inform her family not to call this number. In that case, she should understand why he didn't allow her family to send her money.

"Once you're in contact with your family, some things will come to light. Although, I'm not sure what those things might be," Morpheus murmured.

Persephone remained silent for a while, nodding as if understanding but not quite.

Flinge was a peculiar city, shrouded in darkness, with many areas untouched by sunlight. A small misstep could cause a chain reaction, like the butterfly effect. The consequences were something even Morpheus couldn't predict. That was why he didn't want her to have contact with the outside world—to minimize this possibility.

Chapter 1910

Chapter 1910

"But... I don't have any money." Persephone lowered her head.

Morpheus furrowed his brow slightly. He was about to mention that she had food and lodging, so what else would she need money for? However, the words stuck in his throat.

Indeed, she needed money. A woman's daily needs always involved expenses, right? Moreover, judging by her delicate appearance, she seemed like a well-off girl, raised in affluence, which probably incurred more expenses...

Morpheus cleared his throat lightly and said, "I have money."

"You..."

"Here." He pulled out a bank card from his pocket.

In the split second that Persephone's mind went blank, he had already slipped the card into her palm.

"If you want to use it, go ahead." He seemed nonchalant. "I can easily afford to take care of your expenses."

Persephone held the card tightly, feeling a slight pain in her palm where the edge of the card cut. However, she smiled, a sweet sensation lingering in her heart.

"Are you sure you want me to use this?"

"Hmm?" Morpheus raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"

"Then, I'll use it." Persephone looked at him. "You probably don't know what kind of things I usually buy."

Morpheus pursed his lips, not in the mood to banter with her. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked away with long strides.

Persephone followed behind him, smiling all the while.

As they exited the small convenience store, Morpheus suddenly pulled her into his embrace.

Persephone was startled while he whispered to her after scanning the surroundings, "Lower your head and stay close to me."

Persephone complied. As they left, the store owner glanced at them cryptically and smiled.

It was much later that Persephone learned the true purpose of that convenience store and understood the real identities of Morpheus and the store owner. However, that was years down the road.

Currently, the little princess of the Hamertons was trapped in Flinge.

Since Persephone made that call in the convenience store, she had developed a rapport with the store owner. Every day around 4:00 p.m., George would be there waiting for her. As soon as she entered the small shop, he would roll down the shutters and hang a sign at the shopfront saying, "Out for a bit."

It was there she could peacefully call her family to reassure them of her safety. However, the calls couldn't be too long, only lasting two or three minutes each time. And each time, Morpheus was by her side.

This day, Morpheus had a match, so Wynn accompanied her. After finishing the call, she stepped out with a slightly downcast mood.

"What's wrong?" Wynn asked with concern.

Persephone sighed softly.

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt a profound sense of helplessness. She missed home-her parents and even her little brother, who often teased her. Even though it had only been a few days since she had been separated from her family, it felt like she had traveled light-years away.

Wynn bought her a drink, telling her that consuming something sugary would lift her spirits.

Persephone forced a smile and thanked him softly.

"Let's go!" Wynn linked his arm with Persephone's. "It's already afternoon. Let me take you to the night market! The night market is just across the street from the commercial district. If you get tired of strolling, we can "

"Oh, who wanted to go to the night market? It's you!" Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through.

Persephone looked up. The speaker had a sardonic smile, vividly illustrating what people called a despicable face.

"How could a creature like you still have the audacity to wander around the streets?"