Married a Secret Billionaire by Breaking Wave

After that banquet, Toph became silent.

Even Wendy noticed it. The house used to be full of Toph's laughter, but recently, he had been unusually quiet. He

would either frown or sigh, and sometimes he'd lock himself in his room.

Zuko and Lina were conflicted after they figured out the whole story. They did not want to see him feeling down like

this all the time.

Coincidentally, Renee realized she had gone too far and apologized. Toph's face lit up. The gloomy clouds cleared,

and he was his radiant self again like the little sun he always was.

"Hey, Zuko." Once, Toph asked Zuko in a hushed voice, "Is it true that the more a girl picks on you unreasonably,

the more it proves she can't be without you?"

Zuko frowned as he pondered. He felt it was not easy to give a definite answer to that—because Lina never treated

him like that.

Lina could get jealous, angry, and argue with him. Despite that, the two of them always made up soon after and got

along well. Plus, Lina was clear-headed. She would not get upset without reason.

On the other hand, Renee was somewhat extreme.

However, Zuko did not say this out loud. Instead, he patted Toph's shoulder and chuckled. "We're men and can't be

as petty."

"I think I'm already laid back enough." Toph scratched his head. "Bro, what else should I do to make her happy?

Should I really quit playing games? Isn't that like asking for my life? You can ask dad if he can quit smoking..."

Zuko paused as if sensing something and then smiled mysteriously. "The thing to quit isn't the games," he

remarked. It was actually the person responsible for creating these games.

"Huh?" Toph looked puzzled.

Zuko sighed helplessly. "Toph, if I were Renee, I'd get irritated too, seeing you this clueless!"

Just then, a call came in from the company, and Zuko had to rush back immediately to handle some matters.

Toph observed his brother hurrying away, murmuring, "Why can't things be stated plainly? Why must they be left to

guessing?"

He hung his head and walked into the yard, sitting on the stone steps by the entrance.

Every Hamerton member possessed a keen intellect, capable of subtly revealing information in conversations.

What's more, the listener could easily understand these hints. Most impressively, they could convey entire

messages with just a glance, no words needed.

Toph sighed.

He was also a Hamerton but could not take these winding routes, nor could he understand these glances. He would

not be able to grasp what the person was trying to convey even if the person's eyes fell off from signaling him too

much.

His parents had once joked that he would not last more than two episodes in a conspiracy drama. Forget two

episodes—he would be killed in half an episode!

That was why he liked two places the most growing up—the Thompsons and the Bayers'.

Nicholas never led him in circles, nor did Josiah talk to him with just his eyes. Both of them said directly whatever

they wanted to say. The same was true for Arya.

While Graham was meticulous and sharp, Arya had completely inherited Josiah's disposition. She was optimistic,

sunny, yearned for freedom, and courageously marched forward.

As Toph was thinking this, he suddenly heard the call of the little kittens. He looked up and saw Wendy standing

there with the litter of kittens.

She asked with a smile, "Mr. Toph, how do you plan to arrange these little ones? They've been here for several days

now. Should we build them a house in the yard? If you want to, I'll ask for it to be arranged."

Toph wanted to keep them but recalled that Renee did not seem to like small animals. He would rather not keep

them alone, so returning them to Arya was a better idea.

As such, he took the litter of kittens and drove to the Bayers'.

When the servants brought him in, Arya was in the middle of drawing.

The promotion for both comic and mobile game versions of Emerald Lake was going well. The comic books were

already sold out, and the digital rights were sold for a good price. The production team was seizing the momentum

and preparing to release Emerald Lake's Part 2.

Arya was busy with composition and writing character profiles these days, her head aching from work.

Toph stood not far away, quietly watching her.

She was completely absorbed in her work, staring at the drawing board and computer screen without lifting her

eyes. She wore a casual outfit—a mismatched top and bottom. Her hair was hastily tied up, sticking out in all

directions like an explosion, and she even used a paintbrush to hold it in place. The floor was strewn with discarded

drafts and empty paint cans.

Toph leaned against the door frame, thinking about how he probably did not fare much better than her when he

drew. He could not help but chuckle.

The chuckle startled Arya. She quickly sat up, taken aback by the unexpected visitor.

"Toph?"

"Ah, I'm really sorry!" Toph apologized. "Did I interrupt your inspiration?"

"No, not at all!" Arya smiled. "Come in and have a seat!"

Toph carried the litter of kittens inside.

When Arya saw them, she was amused. "You took them all away in one go before, and now you've brought them

back all at once. Do you think my place is some kind of shelter?"

"I..." Toph scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.

"I'm just kidding!" Arya placed the kittens on the table and gently grabbed one by the back of its neck to cradle it in

her arms, rubbing its ears affectionately.

"Why, you're not keeping them anymore?"

"Yeah." Toph concocted a reason. "My mom doesn't allow it. She says my dad is a neat freak and hates cat fur."

"It's okay. Then I'll keep them! My cat has been a bit down these days. I think she's missing her babies."

Toph nodded, feeling a bit reluctant to part with them.

"Um... Arya, can I discuss something with you?"

"What is it?"

"How about we raise these kittens together? I'll have someone deliver cat food regularly. It will definitely be the best

and most expensive!"

"Huh?" Arya furrowed her brow. She smiled after a while and refused gently.

Toph was taken aback. "Why?"

"First of all, the Bayers can afford that kind of cat food," Arya said softly. "Secondly, which is also the most

important thing, you have a girlfriend!"

Toph was confused. He was going to send cat food over—not himself every day.

"Even if you're sending cat food, those with ulterior motives in the business world will make a fuss out of it when

they find out.

"I don't want others to misunderstand, and you shouldn't let your girlfriend misunderstand either, Toph. It's better if

we keep some distance."