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Zuko glanced at Lina, who was immersed in the joy of being with her family, her genuine smile touching his heart. If
he were to disrupt this peace rashly, would he still witness such pure beauty in her smile?
Besides, everything had yet to reach a final conclusion. What if it was all just a misunderstanding?
A long sigh escaped Zuko’s lips as he felt a heavy weight in his heart.
…
In the stillness of the night, Jesse and Melissa’s bedroom door was tightly shut, allowing a faint light to seep through
the window.
Jesse looked at his wife with a heavy heart. After much hesitation, he finally spoke with a stiff tone. “Next time…
don’t show Lina’s birth certificate again.”
Melissa, who was flipping through old photos of Lina as a child, froze suddenly, her finger hovering over a particular
picture of them holding Lina at the pier.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“That birth certificate is fake.” Jesse glanced around and whispered, “You shouldn’t have shown it to Zeke. He’s
been jailed for forging documents before. He’s a professional! I’m sure he spotted it instantly.”
Realization of the danger of her actions struck Melissa, and she turned pale. How could she have forgotten?
“No, no…” She remained silent for a while, trying to appear calm. “I only showed it to him briefly. He couldn’t see it
clearly!”
Jesse cast a glance at her, impatiently smacking his lips together. “Just don’t argue with Mary anymore. Let her say
whatever she wants! Your outburst only made Zeke think we are guilty…”
Melissa bit her lip, feeling guilty indeed. Lately, she had been unable to sleep well, plagued by nightmares that
transported her back to the time when they were on the boat.
In the dream…
She could hear the cries of a little girl and turned around to find young Lina standing alone on the deck.
When she hurriedly ran over to pick her up, Lina suddenly grew up before her eyes. Her gaze turned icy and
resentful as if she was staring at an enemy. “Why won’t you let me go home? Why!?”
Melissa burst into tears, unable to utter a word.
“You won’t let me go home, and you won’t let me find my parents! I hate you! I hate you!”
Melissa woke up abruptly, her pillow soaked with tears.
…
Even now, recalling that dream made her shudder, sending chills down her spine.
Jesse’s timing to speak was uncanny. “Honey, after the shipwreck, we should’ve handed Lina over to the police, let
them help her find her family—”
“Shut up!” Melissa glared at him, her heart pounding.
Jesse leaned in, embracing her shoulder and gently patting her as if comforting a child.
After years of marriage, he understood her feelings better than anyone else. Although Lina was a child they had
found, his wife pampered and cherished her for these 20 years, fearing that the girl would experience even the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmslightest injustice. She loved her even more than their biological son.
Perhaps, this was the special bond between people.
Jesse sighed, his eyes slightly red as he whispered, “Let’s forget about it. Don’t dwell too much. Let things take their
course.”
“No, I can’t abandon my daughter!” Melissa’s tears fell. “Why did we let Zeke stay in our house? Wasn’t it to win
over this potential son-in-law and keep Lina by our side?”
“Well…”
“We have to keep this secret. No matter what others say, we must insist that Lina is our daughter!”
“Yeah, haven’t we done so all these years?” Jesse looked troubled. “But, honey, secrets can’t be kept forever.”
“They can!” Melissa insisted, speaking in a low tone after pondering for a while. “I guess Zeke said that to test us…
Maybe he thought he wouldn’t gain anything if Lina wasn’t our daughter!”
Jesse’s eyes lit up, finding her reasoning sound. He couldn’t believe this prospective son-in-law had no ulterior
motives!
“So what should we do, honey?” he asked.
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