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Just then, Zuko’s phone rang. The slight startle caused him to lighten his kick as he saw the name on the screen he
had been the most worried about seeing these past few days—Melissa.
Taking a deep breath, Zuko walked outside the room to answer the call. He greeted Melissa in a relaxed tone,
“Ma’am.”
Melissa unconsciously called out “Zeke” but quickly corrected herself, becoming cautious and reserved. “Mr… Mr.
Hamerton, hello.”
“Ma’am, no need to be formal with me. Just call me Zeke. Why didn’t you inform me when you left Centrolis a few
days ago?”
“Oh…” Melissa forced a smile and said, “We didn’t want to bother you. We can still manage… Well… Lina… Is she
doing well?”
She hesitated before finally asking the question.
…
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn fact, for the past two days, she had been agonizing over this phone call. The moment she learned that Lina was
the only daughter of the Thompsons, a true heiress, she knew that she should gracefully step back.
However, after raising her for so many years, Melissa had long regarded Lina as her own daughter. Upon returning
to Jangasas, she repeatedly looked through Lina’s photos as she grew up. Tears would uncontrollably flow down her
face as she flipped through them.
She tried her best not to think about her daughter, but she couldn’t help herself and secretly called Lina, just
wanting to hear her voice. However, there was no answer on the other end.
She was surprised because she knew her daughter well and couldn’t fathom why she cut off contact without any
cause. The only possibility was… Melissa couldn’t bear to think about it!
As soon as this thought emerged, Melissa’s heart pounded anxiously. Disregarding her ongoing treatment at the
hospital, she tore off the intravenous tube and ran out frantically.
Jesse caught up with her, panting, and urged her to stop overthinking. After all, Lina was the Thompson heiress, and
her biological parents would definitely dote on her. How could she be stripped of her own free will?
Melissa desperately suppressed those negative thoughts. She held them in until today when she couldn’t sit still
anymore and finally called Zuko.
…
Melissa spoke in a humble tone. “Mr. H-Hamerton, is Lina with you? Can you let her take the call?”
Zuko hesitated, not knowing how to respond. He could easily fabricate a lie with a poker face if it were someone
else. But facing Melissa, who was deeply concerned about her beloved daughter, he suddenly seemed to have lost
his ability to speak, unable to say anything.
“Mr. Hamerton? Zeke?”
“Um… Ma’am.” Zuko’s throat tightened. “Lina… She’s busy now.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, followed by Melissa’s disappointed “Oh”.
“She’s busy?” Melissa forced a smile. “I understand. She must be very busy… She didn’t receive a good education
while growing up with me, so she must have a lot to learn now.
“I’m fine. As long as she’s doing well. Ask her not to worry about me…”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Alright, I understand.” Zuko dared not say more, afraid that his choked-up voice would give him away.
“By the way, Zeke, there’s also… this old house and the supermarket. They should be transferred to Lina! I know
they’re not valuable, not comparable to her biological parents’ wealth, but it’s a token from me… Can you see
when she’s free to come back and go through the formalities?”
Zuko felt a pang of heartache and took a few deep breaths. He answered in a hoarse voice, “Okay.”
Melissa smiled with relief on the other end of the line.
“Zeke, I’ll leave… our Lina in your care from now on. Please take good care of her! Please guide her if she has any
difficulties adjusting to her biological parents. And also—”
Before she finished speaking, a piercing scream suddenly echoed through the empty corridor. Zuko was startled
and quickly hung up the phone, then turned around sharply!
The sound came from the room. Although the door was closed, it could still be heard.
Zuko was stunned for a few seconds before he heard a commotion coming from inside the room. He rushed in and
saw several prison guards restraining the almost frenzied Melvin, brutally striking him on the head and body with
their batons.
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