“Don’t be so mean, dad.” Zuko was stubborn.

“Mean?” Zephyr scoffed. “I’m only telling the truth! Zuko, you’re the Hamerstons’ first son. Are you setting this example for your brother? You want the younger generation to learn this nonsense from you?”

“Dad!” Zuko took a deep breath, trying to suppress his emotions, and explained properly, “Firstly, I don’t know that woman. The annual meeting ended late. I was caught off guard when she threw herself at me!

“Secondly, I’m not admitting to any of the scandals in the past!”

Zephyr raised his eyebrows. “So, these women were desperate?”

Zuko nodded confidently.

“You—”

“Dad, I still have a third point.” Zuko paused for a moment. A glint of seriousness flashed through his eyes when he looked up again. “E-Even if I really have a girlfriend, it’s nothing wrong!”

“What did you say!?” Zephyr was stunned.

Zuko thought he would just say whatever he had been holding back once and for all. “I know you and mom are still holding onto the promise with the Thompsons for me to marry their daughter. I hope I’ll hold onto that too. But she’s no longer with us. She has disappeared for 18 years! Why are you guys so stubborn?”

“Shut your mouth!” Zephyr was shocked, furious, and emotional.

Cordelia quickly approached, held, and comforted him while patting his chest softly.

“Stop it, Zuko!” Cordelia blamed him. “Your father is right about you. Why did you talk back? You said that it’s fake news, but you’ve been hanging out with them lately. That’s how they managed to get those pictures. We didn’t accuse you!”

“Mom…”

Cordelia’s voice was shaking as she said, “Also, we didn’t find her body. She merely went missing! Uncle Nicholas has been looking for her all these years!”

“Why must you lie to yourself?” Zuko felt an ache in his heart. “They would have found her if she was still alive!”

“Zuko!”

You guys would condemn me every time such news came out! Are

rendered

to slap him, but she softly held

she couldn’t shake off the guilt she had carried since Pammy had gone missing 18 years ago, a time when Cordelia had

up as a miscarriage, and their second child had

guilt that grew within her, contrasting with the happiness

for how to overcome it. She felt unsure about how to change her strange behavior that stemmed from the burden

it out loud, she was against Zuko

we had clues all these years?” she said

find her!” Zuko raised his

A loud clang echoed when it

Zuko stood aside quietly.

He had been a good boy since he was

had witnessed the father and son fight a

did not only look exactly like Zephyr—their

their emotions and offering no explanations. The determination reflected

a wave of

they were still young. They could work as hard as the young people in the office. Now

were vivid, but she could never go

and Cordelia stepped back to

half of his face with the

brother!” He was gloating. “You dare

glanced at him and said

be honest, I think something’s wrong with them too.” Toph continued playing the game. “Perhaps they’re too close with the Thompsons. That’s why it feels

do you

while replying, “I’ve already forgotten about that a long time

Neither did Zuko remember her. After all, he was only a little past eight years old

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