Ch. 871..880

Chapter 871

Chapter 871

Aurelia's face burned as she stood there in shame.

Carmella got up and around the long table to slowly make her way to Aurelia. She pointed at one of the garments and told her, "This is one of the gold-couching techniques. The raw material for the gold thread used here comes from a neighboring country of Southeast Aciatic. The annual yield isn't a lot, so it's very precious. The thread is soft and fragile, not having much flexibility, so one has to be exceptionally careful when embroidering to be able to keep the thread whole."

Aurelia had heard about this, but this was her first time seeing it.

"This style has high requirements for one's needlework techniques." Carmella looked at her calmly. "This robe alone took five to six months and the collaboration of several veteran artisans." Aurelia bit her lips and stayed quiet.

"Ms. Aurelia, I'm not doubting your ability," Carmella said softly. "But sometimes, whether a person can accomplish something doesn't depend on their ability but their knowledge and experience. "Just like these robes. You've never seen them or come across such a style of craftsmanship. No matter how strong your ability is, you won't be able to embroider it. "Same goes for you and Neil.

"Ms. Aurelia, you've been in Southeast Aciatic for some time now, so you must understand what I'm saying. I don't need to find you an interpreter, do I?"

Aurelia felt like she could taste gall in her throat. Her hands were balled into fists with her fingernails stabbing into her palms. It hurt, but she was barely aware of it. Yeah, the queen was right.

Even if she came across gorgeous garments like these, she would not know how to patch or manage them with her hands.

Even if she met a great man like Neil, the disparity in their status would result in conflicts and differences in values in the long term. When the novelty wore off, would they still be as forgiving and tolerant to each other when they realized their love was not as deep?

Aurelia's eyes turned red. Asking her to give up on Neil was as if digging a part of her heart out. Without her "uncle", her life was an incomplete puzzle-almost missing that one piece...

Carmella took advantage of the timing and eyed her servant. The latter placed a thick envelope of the table in front of them.

There were Armania dollars and a real Southeast Aciatic passport.

"Ms. Aurelia, I know you didn't have an immigration status in the past and have had a hard time being treated as an illegal immigrant." Carmella looked at her. "It's not hard for you to get a status, but you only have a temporary residence permit now.

"I'll give you money and a passport, Ms. Aurelia. You'll be a true Southeast Aciatic citizen from now on." Carmella spoke with emphasis. "But please leave Southeast Aciatic for the time being!" "What?" Aurelia was stunned. She could not help a smirk as she looked at the money and passport. "Your Majesty, you're giving me citizenship, but it's to ask me to leave?"

"Not forever, just for now." Carmella looked at her coldly. "You have a passport now. It's convenient to go anywhere."

"How long am I to leave for?"

"Until Neil gets married."

"Married..." Aurelia muttered the word repeatedly.

With who? The princess?

She clenched her fists, shaking.

Neil was just an item to them then! In their eyes, Neil was the general's son and the best candidate for a marital alliance—a tool to secure the royal family's status. However, to Aurelia, Neil was the one and only in this world. He was her god and her whole world.

She asked herself, 'Aurelia, are you fine with them treating someone you treasure and cherish so much as a tool to exchange favors?

'Are you not hurt? Are you not fighting back!?'

Chapter 872

Chapter 872

Aurelia bit her lips, her beautiful amber eyes filled with resolution.

"Ms. Aurelia, have you made up your mind?"

Carmella was confident.

The sum of money in the envelope was enough for her to live a good life for quite some time, and a Southeast Aciatic passport was the dream of many. The girl would have both of these. What was there for her to say no to?

It thus surprised Carmella that Aurelia scoffed. Her unaffected gaze was slightly disdainful. "Do you think I see uncle as a transaction tool like you all?"

Carmella knitted her brows in alarm. "What did you say?"

Aurelia picked up the envelope and uttered each word seriously, "As long as I agree to your conditions, I'll receive money and official Southeast Aciatic citizenship! You're right. I need both of these. But I'll work for what I need. I won't exchange Neil for them!"

"You..."

"Your Majesty, pardon my impoliteness." Aurelia bowed and looked up straight into her eyes. "But I want to tell you that you won't be able to stop me!

"Cordelia told me that I should fight for it boldly if I love someone! She and Mr. Z were like that." Aurelia's voice was shaky. "She didn't know that she was the Irwin heiress back then and thought that she had a lowly background and wasn't worthy of Mr. Z, but she worked hard and kept improving!

"Cordelia said that standing next to a person equally is the best way love can look. He's great, and I'm not too bad myself. That's what compatibility is!

"I... I'm also working hard to stand next to Neil and let him know that I deserve him. I can do it!

"So, I won't accept your offer, Your Majesty!" Aurelia slapped the envelope on the table. "I won't use Neil in exchange for anything!"

It felt like all of Aurelia's strength was sucked out of her after she spoke. Her hands and feet ran cold, and her knees buckled. If there was no table in front of her as support, she absolutely would have fallen to her knees.

Carmella was incredibly shocked. It seemed that Aurelia was much harder to tackle than she had imagined... She stayed silent in contemplation of her next move.

The scene was coincidentally caught by Alexander, who was hiding behind the door of the hall and had recorded the whole thing to send it to Neil.

His phone was quiet for some time. Alexander chortled. The guy was most probably on cloud nine. He left the hall quietly to go to a quiet corner in the garden and video called Neil.

"So, do I have to help the girl out for you now?"

Neil said nothing and merely stared at the screen dumbly.

"Have you gone silly from how happy you are?" Alexander chuckled dryly. "If you ask me, your girl's a red hot chili pepper. She doesn't need me at all."

"So, you left?" Neil asked.

"Don't worry. It's broad daylight. There's a bunch of maids and guards in the hall. My aunt won't try anything with Aurelia!"

"Still, go back and keep an eye out!" Neil panicked. He was probably elated by the video just now that he was beyond himself, not even regarding Alexander's royal status as he threatened the prince, "I'll deploy the army to the palace tonight if you don't go back there right now!"

"You're getting ridiculous!"

"Just go!"

Alexander rolled his eyes at him and hung up on the video call.

There was some distance between him at the royal garden and Carmella's palace. He went back according to the way he came from.

It was simply baffling that Aurelia, who had been in the hall earlier, was gone in such a short span of time!

The queen was the only one having tea in the palace. Those robes had already been taken away as if Aurelia had never come...

Chapter 873

Chapter 873

The palace guard noticed Alexander and quickly straightened up to bow.

"Your Highness!"

Carmella took a pause before she slowly opened her resting eyes. Alexander was already standing before her with hands on his sides as he greeted her respectfully, "Good morning, Auntie."

"It's not morning anymore." Carmella smiled. "I heard you young people like having, what's it called... brunch? Hah, I have some light food with me here. Treat it as brunch. Come have something to eat!" "Thank you, Auntie. I'm not hungry." Alexander quietly looked around with an alert expression but did not see Aurelia at all.

"Alexander, what are you looking for?"

"Nothing..."

"Are you looking for someone?"

Alexander froze and hesitated for a moment before he replied honestly, "I heard that you asked Aurelia over. I have a few robes that I need her help with too. I wonder if she's done with you here." "She is." Carmella took a sip of tea nonchalantly. "But I've already sent her back."

"Sent her back?"

Alexander frowned and estimated the time. When he recorded the video outside of the hall, Aurelia was still speaking. He then sent the video to Neil, and even if the corner in the garden was relatively isolated, it only took him a little more than ten minutes to leave and return.

Could Carmella make someone vanish into thin air in that short amount of time?

Alexander's heart pounded.

He never had a mother. It was Carmella who had raised him and his sister. The significance of his uncle and aunt was far greater than his birth parents.

He knew that Carmella overestimated herself sometimes, was too arrogant, and thought too highly of herself. She was the queen of the country, so it was inevitable that she had some quirks of temper. Despite that, Alexander had always thought that Carmella was kind... at least not to the extent of taking the initiative to harm someone!

His hands balled up into fists, shaking slightly.

His voice was not loud, but it was clear. "Auntie, forgive me for being rude... I saw Aurelia here earlier, and when I came back the way I left, I didn't see her walking out!" "What do you mean?" Carmella squinted. "Are you saying that I've locked her up?"

Alexander lowered his head. "I didn't say that, but it's bizarre that she's gone in a little over ten minutes. And I'm worried that Mr. Harris won't let this go. Based on how General Harris dotes on him, he might seek an explanation for his son."

"Shut it!" Carmella slammed a hand on the couch armrest with a fierce look. "Are you trying to intimidate me with Noah Harris?

"Noah is only a general no matter how much authority he has over the military. We're the royal family. What sense does it make to be scared of him?"

Alexander looked at her. "Noah Harris is indeed just a general, but it's also true that he has power over the military. Hundreds of thousands of troops in Southeast Aciatic listen to his orders! What does the roya family have aside from a title?"

He chuckled with a tinge of self-depreciation. "Auntie, you're well aware of it... An upset Neil is an upset Southeast Aciatic military! Why would you fight him when you want so much to secure the royal family's influence?"

Carmella scowled.

These words hit her sore spot. This was also the reason she disliked Alexander. The boy had too good a head on his shoulders. He had such a penetrating perception of things that he was hard to control. However, there was one thing Alexander was wrong about. She had indeed let Aurelia leave!

When Aurelia rejected the money and passport, she knew the method could not work. She considered a more indirect way to eliminate the girl. Hence, no matter how foolish she was, she would not lay a finger on Aurelia, given the broad daylight and how transparent the palace was! "Alexander, are you questioning me when you use this tone on me?"

"I dare not, Auntie. I'm just reminding you."

"I really don't know where the girl went!" Carmella was flustered. "She didn't know how to patch those garments up, so I let her leave. "Every word I say is true." She stared at Alexander. "Do you want me to swear by it?"

Alexander paused.

Southeast Aciatic was a religious country, and swearing to the gods was serious. Once one had sworn, one would not dare to break it. Carmella would not joke with something like this.

Chapter 874

Chapter 874

Had Aurelia really left then?

"Alexander, since we're at this point, I might as well let you know." Carmella heaved a long sigh. "I do want to pair your sister up with Neil, and I hope Aurelia's able to leave Southeast Aciatic on her own accord, but the girl didn't agree to it. I can't possibly force her, can I?

"Don't worry. I know what I should and shouldn't do. It's not worth it to offend the Harris family over Aurelia!"

Alexander looked skeptical but nodded.

Carmella waved a hand to dismiss him, and her brows knitted into a frown after she calmed down.

Where had Aurelia gone? Did she run into someone else after she left her place?

Carmella's heart pounded as a name flashed in her mind.

"Call for Princess Victoria!" she asked loudly.

Aurelia curled up in the corner of the wall. The only feeling this place gave her was cold.

White walls, white room, a white rug, and even the window frames were white. This was like a world of ice.

Southeast Aciatic was a sweltering summer, but she was trembling here.

The woman on the bed slowly sat up and watched her with a curious gaze. A while later, the woman copied her and hugged her arms around curled-up knees to sit there like a ball. Aurelia took a deep breath. Terror consumed her like hundreds and thousands of worms. The woman probably did not recognize her anymore, but she could recognize the woman.

It was the woman who had charged out on the day of Cordelia and Zephyr's wedding. It was the woman who had stabbed a fork in her wrist!

Aurelia backed down as much as she could until her back hit the wall, and cold numbness spread through her limbs.

"Hey..." Helene made a hoarse sound from her throat.

Aurelia was helpless as she looked back fearfully. Helene watched her dumbly for some time before she suddenly got up to fetch a blanket and stumbled toward her. "Ah, don't come over!" Aurelia cried and instinctively hugged her head with her hands, closing her eyes.

It was as if Helene did not hear her. She draped the blanket over her and piled it on her back.

Aurelia trembled, and her mind went blank. It was after a long time that she heard a voice as if it came from the sky. "It's not cold now... It's not cold anymore..." Aurelia froze. She looked up slowly and was greeted by the woman's pale but beautiful face smiling at her.

"It's not cold now. It's not cold now...

"Wear this, and it's not cold anymore..."

Aurelia was puzzled. The woman had gone crazy that day, but she knew to care for her today. Knowing that it would be cold to stick to the wall, she gave her a blanket.

"Hello." She tried to communicate with the woman. "I'm Aurelia Chilton. You... You're Princess Lene?"

Helene smiled and trained her unfocused gaze on Aurelia's hair. She pointed at it, then at her own hair, fell in a daze for a bit, and grinned even wider.

"Hair! Same... hair!"

Aurelia smiled as well.

Both of them had the same long chestnut-colored hair. It was just that Aurelia's was lustrous and smooth, but Helene's was like hay like her slowly withering life.

"I heard you're the king's younger sister, so you're the princess?" Aurelia looked around with her big eyes. "This palace is gorgeous, but the color sends chills to one.

"Do you like white a lot?" Aurelia chuckled. "What a coincidence, me too! But I've always worn the nomads' long dresses in the past. Their clothes are super colorful. I didn't have a chance to wear white." Helene listened, not showing if she understood or not. Her eyes suddenly brightened when she heard Aurelia's last sentence.

"Wear white?" She gave it a thought and sprang up, cracking a grin.

Chapter 875

Chapter 875

Helen was gone in the blink of an eye. Aurelia stayed in the corner quietly as she stroked the thin blanket on herself and felt warmth gush into her heart.

She had often chatted with her nomad neighbors back in Melorian in the past.

The nomads loved fortune-telling and all things supernatural. They said that destiny and fate among people were just that, something that was beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. Meeting for the first time, some people felt as if they were old friends, and some people felt annoyed by each other.

It was just like how Aurelia felt about Carmella and Helene. She did not like Carmella even though she was a queen. While Helene had wounded her, she subconsciously defended her-Princess Lene was only muddle-headed and did not hurt others intentionally...

Aurelia sighed and was occupied with ways to escape.

Carmella had actually let her leave the palace, but just as she left the queen's palace, she met Victoria coming over with her people. She bowed according to the etiquette, but a handkerchief covered her mouth and nose the moment she straightened up. Then she passed out.

By the time she regained consciousness, she was already in the west palace. She felt her pocket-it was empty without anything.

Her phone must still be in the main hall palace, but this was the west palace.

Aurelia looked up. Although this was also a palace, it was not that different from a prison. There were guards on the door, so secure that not even a fly could escape.

However, there were not many servants inside. The maids were scared of Helene having another episode, and no one was willing to stay there. All of them kept watch outside.

Aurelia bit her lips, helpless. She did not know where Helene had gone either, and she was the only one in the spacious hall. It felt inexplicably unnerving.

It was then some footsteps echoed.

Aurelia's heart lurched before she saw a maid come in with a bowl of medicinal soup.

"You're..." The maid was a little puzzled, but realization struck her as she recalled that everyone was saying Princess Victoria had brought somebody over and left after throwing her here. "You're Aurelia?"

"You know me?" Aurelia was astonished.

The maid snickered and looked at her disdainfully. "Who doesn't? Mr. Harris is Princess Victoria's compatible match, but you ruined it!"

"You..."

"Don't think you can stay idle since you're here!" The maid shoved the bowl to Aurelia. "Give this to Princess Lene!"

Aurelia was angered and was going to fight back when she heard noises at the door.

"This is the medicine for Princess Lene? Show me!"

Aurelia ran over excitedly as if she had met her savior when she heard the voice.

"Mr. Irwin! What brings you here?

"Mr. Irwin, can you take me out since you can come in? Please, I don't want to keep staying here!"

Cordelia went to the master bedroom after she tucked Zuko in. Zephyr was already showered and lying in bed, looking at her with anticipation evident in his sculpted face. "Not today." She smiled and stroked his face as an apology.

Zephyr paused and sighed before he recovered to a normal sitting position. He grabbed the novel by the bed he had not finished to flip through it.

Why did it feel like it had not even been that many times this month, and her period was here again?

Cordelia lay next to him and snuggled him. Zephyr placed the book down to wrap his arms around her and press a kiss on her forehead.

"I wonder how Aurelia's doing now," Cordelia said softly. "Neil must be so anxious."

"I heard dad say that he met Aurelia when he went to do a checkup for Princess Lene today. She's locked in the west palace, likely Victoria's doing." "Why didn't my dad take her out?"

Chapter 876

Chapter 876

Zephyr smirked mysteriously. "He wants to keep her there for assistance."

Cordelia paused before figuring it out after a while.

Last time, Rowan had mentioned that someone would definitely fail to hold themselves back and want to kill Helene, yet he could not always be there to keep watch.

Now that Aurelia was there, she was like a spy. She was smart and quick-witted, so she could work together with Rowan. If someone really wanted to harm Helene, they could discover it in time and do something as soon as possible.

"Dad's brilliant, huh!" Cordelia chuckled but was still worried. "Is Aurelia willing to do it, though?"

"I remember that Aurelia stayed in the hotel Neil stayed in for some time back in Melorian and was a neighbor with mom and dad, right? They had a good impression of her then, and you're kind to her. She's a grateful girl, so she agreed right away."

"But Princess Lene's illness... I'm really afraid that she'll hurt Aurelia again."

"Speaking of which, it's kind of strange." Zephyr smiled. "Dad said that Helene's super nice to Aurelia and even got her old clothes out for her."

"Really?" Cordelia was in disbelief.

Zephyr went through his phone to find the photo Rowan had sent him. It was a photo taken of Aurelia wearing Helene's clothes.

It was surprising how Helene's clothes looked so fitting on Aurelia, as if they were custom-made. In addition to the girl's chestnut hair, one would think Helene had gotten 20 years younger if one did not look carefully.

Cordelia frowned and suddenly had an odd feeling.

"What is it, honey?" Zephyr asked, "What's wrong?"

"My dad..." She looked at him. "When have you seen someone like my dad taking the initiative to take photos for someone? But he took Aurelia's photo... Did he notice something?"

Zephyr vaguely found it strange as well.

The feeling was as if they were walking in the fog and could not find their way.

Cordelia said softly, "Darling, Aurelia grew up in Melorian and Helene in Southeast Aciatic, yet the two of them... have the same hair color!"

It was not just their hair color that was the same-they shared similar figures too. Even the expression and vibe from their eyes and features looked alike!

Zephyr and Cordelia met eyes, both reading a certain oddity from each other's surprised gaze...

Perhaps Rowan had realized this earlier than them, thus asking Aurelia to stay there.

"Right, I remember that dad asked Aurelia to have a detailed health check in the hospital after she got hurt that time!" Cordelia patted her head. "The report's with dad. He must have deduced something!" "Let's not come to a conclusion so soon." Zephyr was always the calmest, no matter when it was. "Darling, it's useless that we keep guessing here. Why don't we go for the simplest and most direct way... "Dad's a doctor. It wouldn't be hard at all for him to collect their screening samples. We can ask dad to run a test for the two of them.

"But it seems now that he must have noticed something, so I'm guessing that he might've done the DNA test for them already!"

Cordelia nodded. Her husband made sense.

However, Rowan had gotten the habit of being cautious and stringent out of his years of practicing medicine. Before the final verified stage, he would not disclose even a word of information. Cordelia could not help muttering, "The sly old fox can really keep secrets!"

Zephyr was rendered speechless.

"Darling, that's your birth father."

"Mm, because he's my birth father, I'm going to get the answer directly from him!"

Cordelia picked up her phone as she spoke and was going to call Rowan when she received Janine's video call.

"Good morning! Oh, no, no... it should be night over there!"

Janine was radiating and smiling brightly.

"Cordelia, Zephyr, when are you two coming to Melorian? I have good news to share!"

Chapter 877

Chapter 877

Zephyr smiled. Janine would never tell him whatever good news she had, as she always called Cordelia for it.

To Janine, her daughter-in-law was her own child, while she must have picked up her son from the street.

Zephyr knew his mother well too. Her good news was nothing more than their company stock price rising, their rival's stock price plummeting, or her business empire expanding, her sore thumb of an enemy being eliminated....

In spite of it, Janine's sudden voice swiftly blanked Zephyr's mind for several seconds.

"I have a boyfriend... and I want you to meet him!"

"What!?"

Zephyr shoved himself over immediately. If Cordelia had not been fast with her hands, he would have knocked his head on the phone screen.

"Mom, what did you say? You got a boyfriend? For real?"

Cordelia kept shooting him looks to stop him from behaving so dramatically, but how could she understand his feelings as a son about his mother...

Zephyr was not a pedantic person. Even when his parents' divorce had hurt him to a certain extent when he was younger, he understood as he grew older that some things just could not be forced, especially marriage and fate.

When the fate between both people ended, staying bound together did no one good. Moreover, Janine and Henry had not started off romantically. They had only gotten married for the interests of their families. Their personalities were so different that it was a matter of course they separated.

It was just that... Zephyr still felt weird about it.

"Mom, who did you find? Look at how happy you are!" He wore a scowl, and his questioning tone did not sound like a son being concerned for his mother. It was more like that of a stern father reprimanding his disobedient daughter.

"Mom, open your eyes and look carefully. You can't judge a book by its cover! What if that man has an ulterior motive in approaching you? Don't you get deceived!"

"You brat!" Janine fought back. "You just can't see your mom being happy, is that it?"

"Mom, you're being unreasonable!"

"Try speaking another word!?"

"Okay, okay..." Cordelia intercepted swiftly. She held Zephyr off and then looked at Janine with a grin. "Mom, Zephyr doesn't speak well. Don't get petty with him!"

Only when Janine heard the soft, sweet voice, did her anger dissipate a little, and her glower faded.

"We're both happy for you that you've found love!" Cordelia said gently, "But... Zephyr's worry makes sense. What kind of person is he?"

"Well, it's a long story!" Janine smiled. "I'll send you his photo later, Cordelia! Let me know what you think. Alright, I'll stop here. I have to call your mom first! Xyla, that old woman, the gossiper in her heart, will certainly stop her from sleeping once she finds out... Hahaha!"

Janine cut the video call after that.

Cordelia stared at the black screen in silence for some time. The man beside her was quiet as well. His oppressive presence made one dare not breathe even a little louder.

Cordelia looked at his scowling face and leaned on his shoulder lightly. Her hand went from his chest to his collarbone and rubbed it gently.

"What is it?" she asked softly. "Mom just got a boyfriend, and you're this angry?"

"..."

Zephyr's eyes were cast down. Plenty of words were stuck in his throat, but he could not utter them.

"I don't- It's not like I don't want mom to be happy." His voice was a deep rumble. "It's just..."

"It's just you suddenly have some sense of disappointment?"

"Huh?" Zephyr paused and turned to meet Cordelia's shining eyes.

Like déjà vu, it felt like he returned to the first night of their marriage when they first met. She had looked at him with this pair of bright, beautiful eyes back then and melted his icy line of defense with her gentle yet determined strength.

Zephyr's heart squeezed, and he could not help hugging her tighter.

Her voice was soft. "Darling, I understand why you feel so down... Your parents divorced, and dad married Aunt Cloud later. Now that mom's going to have her other half too, you feel that you've been left out. Is that so?"

Zephyr pressed his lips together.

Chapter 878

Chapter 878

It was difficult to make the willful man admit his fragility, but his reaction was evidence that Cordelia was right.

After a stretched moment of silence, Zephyr finally spoke up. "Yes, honey..."

Cordelia stroked his face adoringly.

"My parents are good to me after their divorce, both families are, but there's still a knot in my heart.

"Aunt Cloud sees me as her own, but when I see her, Zennie, and dad together sometimes, I feel like they're a family of three, and I'm only an outsider. "And mom's going to have her own family now too..."

Zephyr smiled and let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He snapped back to himself briefly and looked at Cordelia to ask in worry, "Do you think I'm being petty?" Cordelia curled up in his arms. Her warmth and sweet fragrance were the one and only antidote in the world that slowly calmed Zephyr down.

"Silly." Her soft voice rang in his ear. "This isn't being petty. This is only human."

Zephyr's heart clenched.

"Darling, why would you be left behind? You have me!

"Dad and mom have their own lives, so they can't possibly accompany you forever. But I'll definitely be there for you in your life!" "Cordelia..." There was a hint of a sob in Zephyr's voice.

"Life is like that. Our parents will leave before us, and our children will have their own lives when they grow up. It's lonely to be alive.

"But I'm not lonely anymore with you in my life!" Cordelia smiled sweetly and poked Zephyr's chest. "What about you? Is it the same for you?" The corner of Zephyr's lips twitched, and he wanted to say something, but no words got out. He could only express himself with a deep kiss...

"Mmh!"

Cordelia nearly lost her breath when she was kissed unexpectedly. Strong arms wound around her shoulders, and large hands roamed around her. "No..." She pushed him lightly. "Not today..."

"I know." Zephyr smiled. His deep eyes dilated as he showered kisses from her face to her chest.

He did not mind nibbling when he could not get a bite.

Zephyr smiled and pulled the covers over their heads. The moonlight shone through the window onto the swaying figures on the bed.

Zephyr and Cordelia arrived at Melorian with their son a few days later.

This was not Zuko's first time on a plane, but he was just a newborn back then and was too young. He was a little over one year old now and took the flight well, not giving Cordelia additional worries. With big adorable blinking eyes, he looked around, full of curiosity for everything around him.

It was just that when he saw his own father, he pursed his lips and turned his head away.

"Brat..." Zephyr glared and muttered under his breath.

He had been disgruntled the whole way. He had planned to take Cordelia to Melorian alone as a honeymoon so they could spend some quality alone time together.

Cordelia was unable to leave Zuko, though. Zephyr had said all he could, swearing that just one week in Melorian was enough and that there were so many nannies and service staff at home. Rowan and Xyla would be home too, so there was nothing to worry about leaving the child with them.

Unfortunately, his wife prioritized their son so much that he, as her husband, could only make way for the kid.

Therefore, Cordelia happily took Zuko aboard the plane to Melorian amidst Zephyr's reluctance.

Once they exited the VIP passage, they saw Janine waiting.

"Cordelia, Zephyr!" She waved excitedly and was even happier to see Zuko. She carried him into her arms at once.

"Oh, my little baby! You've grown so fast! Let Granny give you a kiss!"

Chapter 879

Chapter 879

Although they had not met much, Zuko was not shy and spread his chubby arms to go to his grandmother.

Janine, who was known to be tough as steel, melted over the little boy. She kissed his cheek and carefully carried him to the car, placing him in the baby car seat. After Zuko was settled in, Janine was going to get into the car from the other side when she felt someone yank her from the back.

"What?" She looked at her son in confusion.

Zephyr was all smiles as he quietly told his mother his idea, "I'll leave Zuko at home for the next two days and take Cordelia around other places in Eropah!" "Huh?"

"Mom, help me out!" Zephyr shot her a look. "Hold this little drag back, and don't let him get to Cordelia!"

One sentence was all it took to enrage Janine.

Janine then hit Zephyr on the head.

"You brat!" Janine glared at him. "Are you even literate? That's your son! Do you know what a drag is, and you call him that!?"

"I know..." Zephyr chuckled dryly. "I'm just analogizing!"

"Well, your analogy sucks!" Janine snickered. "And your plan sucks too!"

"Mom?"

"Never mind that Cordelia wouldn't abandon your son and have fun herself. Your mother has been busy recently. I can't babysit for you!"

Zephyr was rendered speechless.

"Isn't it romantic for you two to have a honeymoon with your son? Back then I..."

Janine halted her speech. Back then, she had not had any honeymoon with her son. She had regretted it not long after marrying Henry and had been in a hurry to divorce the man and flee after giving birth. What she felt back then was really different from what she felt now.

"Hah, you're busy?" Zephyr glanced at her. "Busy dating that you don't even have time for your grandson!?"

"Zephyr Hamerton!"

"Who's that guy? To infatuate you to this extent!"

Janine took a deep breath and put on a smile that was more like a wince as she patted her son's shoulder.

"Be nice when you see your Uncle Bond later, you hear me?"

"Uncle Bond?"

"Oh, right." Janine turned back before she got into the car and smirked. "You're a drag to your Uncle Bond. You know what the word means now?"

"..."

Janine looked at him again with slightly furrowed brows.

Why was Zephyr's glare looking so much more like that pufferfish in Southeast Aciatic now? How could something so strange as the son-in-law growing to resemble his father-in-law happen in this world!? Janine shook her head and covered her face to stop seeing a thing. It was better for her to get into the car and look at her adorable grandson.

Zephyr got inside as well, and Zuko actually behaved, calling "papa" continuously.

Zephyr felt his heart melt and carried his son over to blow him raspberries and make the boy giggle loudly. Cordelia asked, "What were you and mom talking about outside the car just now? You took so long?" Zephyr paused while Janine cackled. "Oh, haha... Nothing, I was just reasoning with Zephyr!"

Cordelia chuckled. Each time Janine "reasoned", it was a war, and the one who lost would always be Zephyr.

Chapter 880

Chapter 880

Cordelia looked out the window and asked, "Mom, this doesn't seem like the way home..."

"We're not going home yet. I'll take you for some food first!"

"Food?" Realization struck Cordelia, and she leaned forward with a smirk. "Is it a treat from my mother-in-law or my future father-in-law?"

"You child!" Janine giggled happily. "You're teasing me now, huh!?"

"Mom, what's he like? I'm curious."

Janine looked at her and held her hand softly, keeping it a secret for now.

They came to a stop at Baker Hotel shortly.

As one of the iconic buildings in Melorian, Baker Hotel was well equipped with the conditions for success. Not only was it luxurious and grand on the exterior, but its service could also hardly be topped by other hotels.

The building was cleared for Mr. and Mrs. Hamerton today, and the general manager welcomed them personally.

"Madam Baker, everything's set. It's at the revolving restaurant on the top floor."

"Mm." Janine was happy with the setup. "Is Mr. Bond here already?"

"He is."

Cordelia and Zephyr exchanged a glance. They were both curious and anxious to meet this man.

Cordelia held Zephyr's hand tightly and followed Janine to the revolving restaurant. There was already a middle-aged man sitting by the window. He looked poised and elegant in his demeanor. The man got up to greet them the way a Chaiseland gentleman would.

"Come, come, let me introduce you!" Janine said with a smile, "This is my son, Zephyr, my daughter-in-law, Cordelia, and their baby boy, Zuko!

"This is your Uncle Bond!" Janine looked at the man and uttered his name, "Jim Bond!"

Cordelia took a pause and did her best to press the corners of her lips down while Zephyr was at a loss for words.

Both of them had a decent impression of the man when they met as he looked like he came from an educated background and was probably compatible with Janine, but his name...... "Stop standing around!" Janine said warmly, "Come on, have a seat. Let's eat!

"Jim, have a seat too!"

Cordelia tugged Zephyr's hand and could not help chuckling.

Zephyr rolled his eyes in his mind, grumbling about how all of the men his mother could choose, she picked one with such a lame name... Then a book flashed in his mind all of a sudden. The mystery novel he had always kept by the bed to read recently... Jim Bond?

The book's... author?

Zephyr froze, and his gaze was laced with disbelief as he looked at Uncle Bond across him.

"What? You wouldn't be your Uncle Bond's reader, would you?" Janine teased, "Jim writes mystery novels. Some of them are adapted into films already, and a new one is being written. I'm thinking of investing in the production."

Jim placed his cutlery down and flashed a humble and friendly smile.

He was not exactly handsome, a common face in the crowd. He was also a little plump, very much unlike what his name was implying. However, he exuded an academic air that separated him from the regular people.

"You're Mr. Bond?" Cordelia was the first to react. She had heard Trinity mention a few times that the author was a rare talented author in recent years. He had writing experience for decades, which paid off as his recent works went viral one after another, claiming the best-seller spot consecutively.

Even Zephyr had often discussed the details of the novel he kept by the bed, saying that the author wrote well with impeccable logic and that reading his book was a joy. They actually met him in real life today!