Ch. 1981..1990

Chapter 1981

Chapter 1981

Throughout the journey, Persephone's heart pounded, feeling like she had just woken from a dream. Yet, the dream was so vivid she couldn't help pinching her arm.

"If you're uncomfortable, you can still call me Granny Catherine, okay? I don't mind!" The girl laughed cheerfully, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Persephone trembled slightly and gently pushed her away.

"Oh... sorry, sorry." The girl reined in her smile. "She warned me that you don't like people getting too close."

"Who?" Persephone looked up abruptly, her heart skipping a beat.

Besides her, who else could remember these small details...

Persephone's vision suddenly blurred, and her nose felt tingly. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

"Oh my, please don't cry!" The girl was startled, frantically apologizing. "It's my fault, my fault! How did I make you cry, I..."

"Is it her?" Persephone grabbed the girl's hand, her emotions rising. "Is it really her? Is she here?"

"Goodness!" The girl quickly covered Persephone's mouth, warily looking around. "Why make so much noise? Who are you trying to attract?"

She guided Persephone into a deep alley. It was quiet inside, with no streetlights and high walls blocking out the sunlight. A gust of wind made them shiver involuntarily.

She told Persephone to stay there and not move, then crouched to listen for a while. As she got up, she clapped her hands lightly. "We're safe for now."

Persephone seemed to still be in a daze, staring blankly at her.

"Ahem..." The girl cleared her throat. "My name is Catherine, and I'm probably a bit younger than you."

Persephone nodded absently, tears still streaming down her face.

"Is it her or not? Tell me!"

Catherine didn't say anything. She only took out a little rabbit made of straw rope. As soon as Persephone saw it, she felt a dull ache in her chest that spread through her veins.

Back then.

"Miss, if we get separated in the future, let's use this little rabbit as a secret signal, okay?"

"Why this?"

"Because... in your house, you have horses, dogs, even a pet tiger, and a huge hunting ground, but you don't keep rabbits!"

"So, we have to use a rabbit as our sign? Haha!"

"Yes! Because it's unique!"

To Greta, Persephone was unique.

Persephone held onto the little rabbit with tears still streaming down her face.

Catherine crouched down, looking at Persephone by the wall. "If you have anything to instruct me, please do. Don't be afraid. In the future... I'll protect you."

Catherine led Persephone through several small streets until they reached the convenience store's entrance.

Persephone froze, about to ask how Catherine knew this place, but the latter gestured for her to stay silent. They soon entered the convenience store, swiftly reaching the small room where Ryan was recuperating.

Persephone stood at the door and inexplicably began to feel nervous.

Catherine whispered, "Ryan's injuries have mostly healed, but they were so severe that... he's probably disabled now."

"What?"

"Don't misunderstand!" Catherine hastily waved her hands. "When I say disabled, I mean he can't be your bodyguard like before. He's fine in his daily life, so... Madame Bailey gave him some money and sent him away from Flinge to find his own path."

"Then..." Persephone stared blankly at the door. "Who's inside?"

Catherine opened the door with a chuckle. The room no longer had the previous dimness and disorder. Everything inside had been rearranged, with simple, clean, cream-colored furniture.

Chapter 1982

Chapter 1982

This was Persephone's favorite color.

She moved toward the person in front of the window as if in a dream.

With each step, her heart felt like it was being stabbed. The carefree memories flashed in her mind. Her nose tingled, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. Those delicate shoulders were ones she had seen countless times in her dreams.

"Greta..." she finally called out with a shaky voice. "Greta, is it really you?"

The girl turned.

Persephone stood frozen in place, stunned for a very long time.

In her memory, Greta was still the 16-year-old girl who loved wearing white dresses, had long hair, and enjoyed running and laughing in the sunlight. Her canines would show adorably when she smiled. However, the woman before her had her hair styled in a bun. Her eyes were still beautiful, but they bore the marks of time.

She gazed at Persephone as if with a thousand words, and her lips moved, but she made no sound.

"Greta!" Persephone shouted, running over to tightly embrace her.

This embrace was late by many years, feeling like it spanned lifetimes.

Greta also extended her thin arms and hugged her tightly.

They were each other's most beautiful memories of their youth, and they once thought they would never meet again in this lifetime.

Persephone cried like a child, pounding Greta's back while crying. She blamed her for suddenly disappearing, for leaving without a word, for not contacting her for so many years.

"I'm willful and bad-tempered, so you hate me?"

Persephone cupped Greta's face, wailing.

"Weren't we supposed to be best friends forever?

"Did you keep your promise? Why did you make it so hard for me to find you?!

"Greta, speak up!"

Greta only shed tears, silently looking at Persephone.

"Miss, please don't do this!" Catherine tugged her. "Madame Bailey... She's... She's..."

"What's wrong?"

Persephone finally realized there had been a strange silence in the room since they entered. She had recognized Greta, hugged her, cried, and made a fuss. Even if Greta didn't know what to say, she should have made some sound-any sound.

Despite that...

Persephone stared at her in shock.

Catherine's expression turned grave. "Madame Bailey can't speak anymore. Her vocal cords were severely damaged. She'll never speak again in her life!"

Persephone felt a pang in her heart and held Greta's hand.

Greta gestured to Catherine to leave.

Catherine nodded, turning to close the door behind them.

Greta helped dry Persephone's tears, smiled at her, then walked to the table and wrote.

[You'll be back home shortly. Say Granny Catherine took you to buy some motion sickness medicine.]

"Greta..."

[Be good!] Greta wrote on the paper [Go home and behave for now. Avoid any direct conflict with Seamus.]

Chapter 1983

Chapter 1983

"But Greta..." Persephone asked tearfully, "Why can't you speak anymore?"

She didn't dare imagine what Greta had gone through all these years. The world-weariness in Greta's eyes made her seem so different from the innocent girl she once knew.

Greta shook her head at Persephone, caressing her face and wiping away her tears.

Greta: [You'll be okay. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything bad happen to you.]

Persephone felt a sharp ache in her heart.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, making her alert.

However, the person who entered was the one she had yearned for so much...

Persephone froze as she saw the smile that usually appeared in her dreams right before her.

"Morpheus..."

Morpheus didn't say anything. He just rushed over and hugged her tightly.

"Are you assured now?" Morpheus held her hand, smiling. "I'll make sure to safely escort you back home. This time, I'll accompany you home."

When Persephone returned to the apartment, it was already completely dark outside.

Seamus sat in the smoky living room that was filled with a strong scent of nicotine.

Persephone wrinkled her brows, a look of disgust briefly crossing her face.

The other two bodyguards were scolded by Seamus, standing against the wall, afraid to speak or move.

"You finally came back." Seamus' expression was cold. "Did you go to another city to buy groceries with Granny Catherine?!"

"Why are you so hostile..." Persephone pouted, her voice low. "Don't you like asparagus? I couldn't find fresh ones at the local market, so I went to one a few kilometers away... But I didn't know the way around here and got lost in the turns and twists..."

"Heh, you remember what I like?"

"How could I forget?" Persephone looked at him. "You've always been good to me since I was little. You remember everything about me, so naturally, I remember things about you, too."

Seamus' gaze faltered as if he had something to say. But after a while, all he said with a sullen expression was, "Where's Granny Catherine?"

"She's old and can't walk that far." Persephone remained composed. "When you drove her away earlier, she stayed at a cheap inn on the street. So, I dismissed her from following me and asked her to find a place to stay for the night."

Seamus bit his lip. He felt like Persephone was lying through her teeth!

Strangely, though, Persephone's explanation aligned surprisingly well with the story from the two bodyguards.

Both of them claimed that they lost track of Persephone at the beginning. She went with Catherine to an open market a few kilometers away to buy groceries. Later, they caught up and followed her to that market.

After Persephone and Catherine finished shopping, they lost her again when she turned into a certain alley.

Then, they returned and had been standing in the corner the whole time.

Seamus took a deep breath, his eyes betraying his suppressed rage. However, Persephone looked calm, and he didn't have any concrete evidence.

"Alright," he said softly. "It's late. I don't feel like eating anything now. Keep the asparagus for tomorrow. I'll cook for you.

"Miss, get some rest."

"Seamus," Persephone called him softly.

He paused but didn't turn back. His figure in the dim light seemed somewhat eerie.

Persephone watched him, asking as if talking to herself, "Don't you have anything you want to tell me about the past?"

Chapter 1984

Chapter 1984

Seamus was quiet for a moment. "I don't understand what you mean."

"You said that you'd do anything for me."

"This remains the same."

"Does that include hurting me?"

The air went unnervingly silent.

Persephone could clearly see how Seamus' shoulders slouched and his back trembled slightly. Her heart jolted alongside.

Even after learning what Seamus had done, Persephone still kept her hopes. He had grown up with her. Their relationship was different. Parting felt like piercing a capillary from the palm that caused pain to spread uncontrollably. Even with the blood stopped, the scar remained for life.

Persephone said with a serious tone, "Seamus, I believe you won't harm me, right?"

"Of course not," Seamus replied. "Miss, don't overthink it. Get some rest."

"When are we leaving here?"

"The day after tomorrow," he answered firmly.

She hesitated before asking, "Are we really taking the bus? I heard... buses aren't safe."

"Don't worry." Seamus turned around, giving her a slight smile. "With me around, nothing will happen to you."

Persephone felt like something hit her-hard.

It took her a lot of effort to suppress the urge to cry. When she returned to her room, she weakly leaned against the door and slid down on the floor.

Just now, she wanted to cry, but now, she felt like laughing mockingly. Seamus had said the same thing to Greta-"Nothing will happen to you." It was absurd.

Recalling what Catherine had told her about Greta's experiences over the years, Persephone was shaken.

Greta had disappeared at 16, and the mastermind behind it was none other than Seamus!

He had also caused Greta's inability to speak-he had poisoned her.

Persephone believed this. After all, Seamus had studied medicine with her in Southeast Aciatic. He knew how to concoct drugs. It wouldn't have been difficult for him to silence someone. Persephone never expected that Seamus would use the skills he acquired on Greta.

"Miss, in fact, Seamus has always been colluding with some forces here in Flinge," Catherine told her. "As for Madame Bailey, he sold her here. By then, Madame Bailey had already lost her voice. You can imagine what happened to her after being sold here!

"Fortunately, Madame Bailey was smart enough and courageous. She used some means and followed Leor, and that's how she got a better life..."

Persephone couldn't find words to express her pain upon hearing that.

Growing up together, she knew what kind of person Greta was. She wasn't good with words and had a naïve character. Even when wronged, she would just smile foolishly.

Now, Catherine said she was smart, courageous, and had means...

What kind of environment could have forced that innocent Greta to become Bailey Neale?

Persephone didn't dare to imagine. All she could do was shed tears.

Her first half of life had been too smooth, seeing only the beauty in the world. In just a few months in Flinge, she seemed to have witnessed the world's ugliness.

Yet, in reality, the demon had always been around her-it was the person she trusted the most.

"Miss, Madame Bailey is the one who's always protected you and Morpheus in secret." Catherine's words echoed in Persephone's ears. "And what does Seamus think of you? Do you really know?"

Chapter 1985

Chapter 1985

Persephone fell into silence.

She didn't know but could guess a few things. Seamus' ambition wasn't to become the head steward of the Hamertons. His target was most likely her.

It was just that he had countless opportunities to make a move on her from childhood to adulthood, and he hadn't done it, had he?

"Think about it. What did Madame Bailey experience before?" Catherine looked at her with worry. "Stop trusting Seamus. He's a lunatic, a pervert!

"The past two times he wanted to leave with you, something odd happened each time. Those weren't coincidences!"

Persephone lowered her head in sorrow.

"For so many years, Seamus has been like family to me," she said softly after a while. "I really don't understand why..."

Catherine patted her back, casting a sympathetic glance at her.

It was just that Persephone didn't really not understand. She just didn't want to face this reality.

Seamus had a humble background. He had always felt inferior. He was dedicated to protecting her but also wanted to pull her into his world.

Persephone took a deep breath and was about to say something to Catherine when suddenly, gunshots echoed from outside!

Startled, she rushed out. Catherine grabbed her and, after exchanging a look, stepped out ahead.

"Miss, be careful..."

Persephone feigned composure as she stepped out.

One of the two bodyguards lay in a pool of blood while Seamus stood there with his gun in hand. His presence was chilling, as if a ghost lingered in the mortal realm.

His expression remained unchanged upon seeing Persephone, but a dark glint brewed in his eyes.

"You're really here," he said coldly, then glanced at Catherine. "Looks like you already know everything, huh?"

Persephone bit her lip. "Are you afraid that I know?"

Seamus didn't respond. He just flashed a disdainful smile.

She asked softly, "Seamus, do you want to take me away, or are you scheming to have me die by your hands?" Seamus' grip on the gun trembled.

"I believe your past kindness to me was real." She stared into his eyes. "But the evil you're doing now is also real!" Seamus pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"You know how important Greta is to me!" Persephone couldn't forgive him anymore. "She's my best friend!"

"I did it for you." Seamus looked up. "You have no idea how dark people's hearts can be. Only I can protect you!"

"Shut up!" Catherine couldn't take it anymore, stepping in front of Persephone. "You've killed so many people and done so many wrongs. Can you sleep at night? Do you really have no guilt?" Seamus looked at her, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Each peal of laughter shook Persephone's heart. The man lying in the dark pool of blood hadn't even closed his eyes-a bullet had pierced his heart.

Persephone would never know that this person had died trying to warn her, but in Seamus' eyes, this person's death was the fate of a traitor.

Chapter 1986

Chapter 1986

"You're the one who should shut up!" Seamus glared daggers at Catherine, his gun pointing at her. "The only mistake I made was letting a wretched person like you into our home!"

"That's what you deserve!" Catherine sneered. "It just proves how incredibly skilled my disguise technique is. You couldn't see through it!"

Seamus' eyes flashed with killing intent.

Persephone quickly pulled Catherine closer to her. She didn't want to risk innocent lives. Although she was afraid, she knew this was a showdown between her and Seamus. She had to face it herself. "Let the others go." Persephone's voice trembled. "I'll go with you and do whatever you say... You said we'd leave on a bus, right? No problem, I'll go with you.

"You just want to prove that only you can protect me." She looked at him. "And that you only deserve me if you destroy me, right?"

Seamus' gaze darkened, and he involuntarily took a few steps back when he was faced with Persephone's icy stare.

"Psychopath!" Catherine erupted. "Miss hit the nail on the head, didn't she? You like her, yet you'll do anything to ruin her! You're simply ridiculous!"

Seamus roared. The moment he raised his gun, Catherine aimed at him as well. They stood in a deadlock, the air thick with tension, each breath carrying the smell of gunpowder. Unexpectedly, the door behind them slowly creaked open at that moment. Greta stepped out, her beautiful eyes determined to share the same fate as him.

"So, you finally decide to show up." Seamus scoffed. "I shouldn't have just silenced you back then. I should've killed you outright!"

"Yeah." Persephone looked coldly at him. "You've reminded me... I shouldn't spare you out of old sentiments anymore today. I should put an end to this!" "Do you think you can?" Seamus sneered. "Sephy, why do you always not trust me? Everything I've done is for you!"

"Everything you've done was for yourself!"

A deep voice echoed, stunning Persephone. She turned around to see Morpheus behind her.

He was a rock, calming her heart instantly and dispelling all fear.

"Sephy isn't your puppet." Morpheus shielded Persephone. "She isn't your marionette. She has her own life."

"She doesn't!" Seamus, now hysterical, pointed his gun at Morpheus' head. "Her life was meant to be tied to mine! Only I can love and protect her forever!"

"If you love her, why can't you love her properly?" Morpheus demanded sharply. "Everything you've done is to destroy her!"

Persephone gasped. Her lips quivered, and she was unable to utter a word.

In reality, Seamus was aware of Greta's whereabouts in Flinge. He was the mastermind behind it all. Seamus had been gradually disclosing the information Persephone received.

He had lured her into Flinge, intending to harm her once they reached there! That was why they had encountered trouble upon arrival and she had ended up trapped in the red light district, facing multiple dangers.

If she had been ruined back then, Seamus would have appeared as the savior immediately. He would have pretended to hold the broken pieces of her, and she would naturally see him as the only light in her life after those hardships.

Persephone closed her eyes, tears dampening her shaking eyelashes.

Seamus played a cunning game but never expected Morpheus to unexpectedly intervene midway.

Chapter 1987

Chapter 1987

"Shut your mouth!"

Seamus was hysterical, his eyes bloodshot. He aimed the gun first at Persephone, but the next second, it was directed at Morpheus.

"Since you love meddling so much, go do it in hell!"

Seamus pulled the trigger.

Persephone screamed, recklessly lunging toward Morpheus. As the gun went off, Morpheus shielded her with his body.

Persephone opened her eyes, surrounded by soft cream-colored walls, the air carrying her favorite grapefruit scent. She blinked and took a deep breath, her heartbeat calming a bit.

A familiar voice sounded beside her. "Sis, had another nightmare?"

Persephone came to her senses. Right, it was just a nightmare.

In her dream, she was back in the desolate, bloody Flinge. Everything was stained red with blood.

The chaotic scenes in her dream were filled with gunfire, sirens, and Morpheus shielding her tightly...

Rubbing her temples, she felt a headache and a pinch in her nose.

Theodore brought a cup of warm water, gently helping her sit up and drink.

It had been two weeks since she returned to Centrolis.

However, these two weeks had been restless. She had nightmares every night, all revolving around the day Seamus had been arrested.

It was probably the most chaotic day of her life. Seamus had been firing wildly while Morpheus had been shielding her from bullets. Greta had also rushed out, making raspy noises...

Theodore asked softly, "Sephy, what do you want to eat? Mom has been making various soups for you, sweet and savory. Grandma also baked those cookies we loved when we were kids. Should I bring you some?"

Persephone forced a smile.

It was like she had lost her voice for several days after returning. Although she wanted to speak, not a word came out. She could only communicate with nods and shakes of her head.

She was better now but still didn't feel like talking much.

"I want to sleep a little more." Her voice was soft. "You don't have to stay with me."

"You should sleep less!" Theodore worried. "Sleeping so much every day will exhaust you! How about I take you horseback riding this afternoon?" "No, thanks."

Persephone lacked interest in anything now.

Theodore quietly left the room with a sigh.

Persephone stayed quiet for a while. She then retrieved the bunny made of straw rope from under her pillow, holding it close to her chest.

This time, she still couldn't bring Greta back.

She recalled Greta's final message on the last day in Flinge after Seamus' arrest.

That day.

Greta wrote on a paper: [The former Greta is gone. It's Bailey who's alive now.]

Tears streamed down Persephone's face as she held Greta's hand tightly. Greta smiled, wiped her tears, and continued to write: [I'll be fine, don't worry.] "What about Leor? Will he marry you? Will he take care of you forever?" she asked. Greta's expression dimmed momentarily, but she looked up with a resilient smile. [He won't marry me, and I don't plan to get married. I can take care of myself just fine.]

"Greta..."

Persephone hugged her tightly, a hug that had been delayed for many years.

Now, lying in bed, the only thing Persephone could hold onto was that little bunny.

Chapter 1988

Chapter 1988

Pacific Garden sat in the southeast corner of Hamerton Manor, a haven of seclusion and serenity, close to the seaside and the ranch. It was an ideal place for recuperation. Morpheus had chosen this tranquil retreat after returning to Centrolis with Persephone. However, rather than finding solace, he became even more withdrawn than before. Theodore paid him a visit, checking in with the caretakers to ensure everything was in order. After confirming the details, he patted Morpheus on the shoulder.

A radiant smile broke through the gloom as Theodore cheerfully called out, "Morpheus!"

Turning around, Morpheus offered a polite smile. Yet, Theodore sensed a forced quality in both his speech and smile, mirroring the demeanor of his sister since their return.

Theodore had been on a mission, tirelessly organizing various types of entertainment for Morpheus, according to his parents' insistence.

Despite Morpheus' willingness to bond, most of the time, he would be found gazing at the distant clouds and hues, lost in contemplation.

The only constant was Morpheus' kindness towards Persephone. He visited her daily, silently accompanying her even when words were unspoken. His anticipation of her needs seemed almost telepathic, always prepared beforehand for whatever she might desire.

Persephone, in turn, grew dependent on him. Her smiles brightened at the mere sight of him.

"Hey, Morpheus!" Theodore coaxed him to the equestrian field. "Since my sister won't come out, let's have a horse-riding competition! You pick one!"

Morpheus obliged and selected a tall, grand horse with a reddish-brown coat glistening in the sunlight. Blaze, as it was known, stood out among the racing field horses, boasting exceptional build and graceful muscle lines.

"Morpheus, you've got a great eye!" Theodore's eyes sparkled. "This horse is called Blaze. Our stable masters said it has a good lineage and fiery temperament. Can... Can you handle it?"

After a moment of hesitation, Morpheus cautiously stroked Blaze's mane before taking the reins. To everyone's surprise, Blaze behaved unusually docile. Even the stable masters gasped in amazement.

"It seems there's a bond between animals and humans!" Theodore smiled. "Blaze has thrown off several people in our stable, and no one dared to touch it! But as soon as you arrived, you tamed it. It looks like it only recognizes you as its master!"

Morpheus displayed a surprising level of horse-riding expertise. He urged Blaze forward, and they galloped ahead with perfect balance, adjusting seamlessly to every movement.

Theodore watched in awe. After their lap, he admired Morpheus even more.

"Morpheus, you're amazing!" He was so excited that he almost lost his grip on the reins. "Did you often ride before?"

Morpheus smiled but remained silent.

"Sephy said when you were in Flinge, you were a fighter, and besides that, you're excellent at riding horses! Is there anything you can't do?"

"I'm not as good as Sephy thinks," Morpheus said in a low voice, patting the horse randomly. "It's still a bit lean. Don't feed it regular fodder." "Oh? Then what should we use?"

Morpheus mentioned a name-a highly specialized feed-that Theodore hadn't heard of.

"Morpheus, I'm increasingly in awe of you," he marveled. "You even know this?"

Morpheus chuckled. It was just that this kind of feed wasn't available in Centrolis. It was used for the horses of Southeast Aciatic's royals. "Hey, Morpheus, how did I do filming you?" Theodore pulled out his phone and showed a video of Morpheus riding moments ago. "You're really cool!" "Don't praise me like that," Morpheus pursed his lips. "I'll get proud."

"You should be!" Theodore laughed. "You've got a style while riding. If we were in ancient times, you'd definitely be a general on the battlefield!" Morpheus's face darkened abruptly, and his demeanor turned somber.

Chapter 1989

Chapter 1989

Morpheus had been a general with blood on his hands.

"M-Morpheus?" Theodore noticed his unusual demeanor and cautiously asked, "What's wrong?"

Morpheus silently dismounted and walked in another direction.

To everyone else, he seemed peculiar-silent, devoid of any presence or expression.

Yet, at that very moment, scenes from the battlefield flooded his mind, tearing him apart like invisible hands.

Persephone's mental state improved day by day.

During this time, in addition to immersing herself in books in the study, she often joined Morpheus by the seaside to watch sunsets and stars.

Morpheus was considerate, always remembering to bring an extra jacket and her favorite hot chocolate.

Sometimes, watching the sunset, Persephone felt a sense of dislocation in time. The sunset in Centrolis was different from Flinge's. It was serene here, while Flinge's sunset carried a desolate feeling. She would ask him, "Would you be willing to stay here with me forever?"

Every time, Morpheus would gently smile at her, caress her hair, and let her lean her head against his shoulder, kissing her silky hair.

Some things didn't need to be said. His actions were proof enough of his willingness to follow her for a lifetime.

One day, as Persephone was about to leave, she saw her parents arriving together.

Zuko and Lina walked into her courtyard, and the family of three sat comfortably under the tree to chat over tea-pleasant and at ease. However, Persephone was a bit anxious, frequently checking her watch until she struggled even to smile.

"Is something bothering you?" Lina had long sensed her daughter's unease.

Persephone spoke frankly. "Mom, I've made plans to paint in Morpheus' courtyard today. He's never seen me paint before!"

Lina raised an eyebrow, quietly observing Persephone.

Having gone through her own adolescent period, how could she not understand her daughter's current state?

Persephone was in love, and it was a passionate phase.

Under the tense atmosphere in Flinge before, they might have hidden their affections, but now that they were back in Centrolis and everything had settled, this love bloomed rapidly like seeds after the rain. Lina's expression turned serious. "Sephy, honestly, your dad and I came today to remind you... Maybe you should keep a bit of distance from Morpheus."

"What?" Persephone was taken aback, almost dropping her art supplies.

"Your mother's right." Zuko cleared his throat. "You've been getting too close to Morpheus lately. With so many eyes in the family watching, if rumors spread, it won't be good for your reputation. After all, you're not married yet, and-"

Persephone stood up abruptly. "Is it bad for my reputation, or is it disrupting your plans?"

Zuko's expression darkened. "Is this how you speak to your father?"

Chapter 1990

Chapter 1990

"Dad!" Persephone frowned. "Did I say something wrong? What you're worried about is that if there are any rumors about Morpheus and me, it might hinder potential alliances with other families, right? "I want to decide my marriage for myself! I'm not a pawn for alliances, and I refuse to pick someone I don't like among these families just for the Hamertons' benefit!"

"Quiet!" Lina glared at her. "You're becoming more disrespectful, shouting like this at your parents!"

Persephone stopped speaking, but her chest heaved with emotions, and her hands trembled.

"Protecting the interests of the entire Hamerton family is the responsibility of every Hamerton!" Zuko spoke sternly. "Your marriage is not solely your decision. Even if you choose, it must be with someone from a compatible background!

"Besides, our main concern is for you!" Zuko was angry. "Morpheus isn't someone we can entrust you to. You can't be with him!"

"Why not?" Persephone's voice trembled, and her eyes welled up with tears. "During those days in Flinge, if it weren't for him taking care of me, you might not have seen me again! And in the end, he took a bullet for me... That scar is still on him!"

"You shouldn't sacrifice your entire life just because of this!" Lina raised her voice. "He took care of you in Flinge and saved you. We appreciate him for that. But gratitude is one thing while being with him is another!"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know about his background?" Lina's gaze turned stern, staring Persephone straight in the eyes. "Do you understand what kind of person he really is? Do you know what he went through in the past? I heard he survived on a chaotic street in Flinge before meeting you... How can we trust someone like that to take care of you?!"

"Mom-"

Lina spoke with gravity. "Sephy, our family has already dealt with a Seamus. Your father and I can't bear a second one!"

"He's not like Seamus!" Persephone defended.

"Does that show on his face?" Zuko scolded loudly. "Persephone, where's your common sense? Haven't you learned from your previous mistake?

"Seamus was raised in the Hamertons. We watched him grow up! He was close to you since childhood, but his motives were so deceptive... He spent years pretending, catching us off guard! If Seamus was like that, how can we possibly trust Morpheus?"

"Alright. Let's talk to our daughter properly. Why are you getting so worked up?" Lina hurried over to calm Zuko down, giving him a meaningful glance.

Zuko calmed down and looked at Persephone. His daughter stood there, head slightly lowered, tears swirling in her eyes. Still, she held them back from falling.

Ever since she was little, this was her stubborn temperament. Most kids would cry out loud when wronged, but she held back her tears until she couldn't anymore, not wanting anyone to see.

"Sephy, your dad and I only want what's best for you," Lina said gently. "We won't mistreat Morpheus, but we also won't trade your lifelong happiness to repay him."

After saying that, the two of them left helplessly.

Persephone bit her lip, feeling a sense of powerlessness welling up inside her.

"Mom and Dad are doing this for your own good."-was this love or a shackle?

At that moment, her phone rang. It was a message from Morpheus with an address, asking her to meet there. She checked it, a fairly unfamiliar place.

"You'll find out once you get here," Morpheus said. "I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Perfect, I also have something to discuss with you. But... I'll need some time before I can leave."

There was a moment of silence on the phone, then Morpheus' low voice came through. "Have you been crying?"