“Lina, I’m not lying to you,” Zuko’s voice was hoarse as he maintained a certain distance, hesitant to approach her. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

After a while, Lina calmed down and noticed Zuko preparing to leave. She hurriedly grabbed a jacket and followed him.

Several cabs were waiting outside the hotel, and one pulled up in front of them. Zuko opened the car door, but he sat in the passenger seat instead of sitting next to her in the backseat.

From the back seat, Lina observed Zuko’s sharp features, deep and resolute eyes, and broad back through the rearview mirror. She knew he must be sitting in the front with his arms crossed, just as he always did.

Everything seemed familiar yet different at the same time, evoking indescribable emotions within Lina.

Suddenly, she recalled the words Gia had spoken before. Gia had attended university to find a wealthy heir to date and marry, claiming that 80% of life’s troubles could be solved with money. Lina had asked what if she didn’t like the man, to which Gia had replied that life was never perfect and she would choose material wealth over feelings.

Lina shook her head, reaffirming her choice of prioritizing feelings.

Now… it seemed like she had both?

Zuko chuckled as he looked at the bewildered Lina and reached out to hold her hand.

Lina pulled away like a startled deer and moved closer to the car door, avoiding his gaze.

The car came to a stop in front of the hospital. Zuko got out of the car, and Lina followed him.

As Lina looked around, she was taken aback. Wasn’t this the hospital of that kind-hearted middle-aged man?

“Z—” she started to say instinctively but stopped. She wasn’t sure whether to call him Zeke or Zuko.

felt familiar and rolled off the tongue easily, while

and turned to her with a gentle smile. “If you’re not used

as they made their way from the hospital entrance to

on the director’s office

records and was slightly surprised to see the two of them. Assuming that his oldest nephew didn’t want his identity disclosed, he composed himself and warmly greeted Lina, “Ms. Jenner? What

him as

his act, looking at Zuko and asking

Irwin?” Lina was surprised. “You

pretended to adjust his glasses. “I don’t. What’s

exasperated and helplessly

go

“No, Uncle, I—”

your uncle?” Carter interrupted, making faces at

to bring up his father. “Uncle, my dad mentioned that you were bullied in school, and he

vigorously

my uncle

lips twitching. He

think I’m tricking her

finally wrapped it around Lina’s shoulder. This time, she didn’t push him away.

on her that Carter had protected her so fiercely when Violet was

was true. Every bizarre experience she had in Southeast

feeling unwell, child?” Carter asked with concern. “You don’t look

declining, Lina replied, “Thank you, there’s

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