Gia hung up, her palms sweating. She collected herself and turned back to the store, where Lina had not come out
yet. Gia pretended as if nothing had happened and softly asked, “Lina, are you done trying the clothes on?”
“This one’s a bit big. I need a smaller size…”
Gia immediately asked the store staff to find the right size.
“Lina, um… Why don’t you go ahead and try it on? I… I need to use the restroom!”
Lina agreed, and Gia quickly rushed out of the store, heading toward the cafe on the basement floor.
The man was already seated in the far corner. Gia’s legs trembled slightly as she forced herself to appear calm and
sat down in front of him. The man handed her a card. With most of his face covered by a baseball cap, the slight
curve of his lips sent shivers down her spine.
“The boss says you’ve done a good job. This is your reward.”
“Thank you…”
“Your next task is to keep Lina here and ensure she doesn’t appear in Centrolis.”
Gia’s heart skipped a beat. “But… I plan to work in Centrolis after I graduate!”
“Future matters will be dealt with in the future.”
Gia wanted to say something more, but the cold expression on the man’s face silenced her. After giving their boss’
instructions, the man stood up and prepared to leave.
The man said with a sneer, “Ms. Chapman, the boss says as long as you can complete each task, he’ll definitely not
treat you unfairly.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtGia’s voice trembled as she asked, “Why didn’t the boss… choose me?”
“Choose you?”
Gia looked up at him.
Yes, since they needed someone to impersonate the daughter of the Thompsons, why had they not chosen her?
Instead, they had her approach Lina from the beginning of university, acquire Lina’s DNA sample, and even take
Lina to remove her birthmark and add a mole.
After all that effort, they found another girl to impersonate Pamela. Gia could not understand. She always thought
she was the perfect candidate to be Pamela.
The man paused and turned to look at her. Although she could not see his gaze clearly, she could sense the
contempt and mockery emanating from him.
The man scoffed lightly. “Ms. Chapman, you should understand this as someone who buys designer handbags. Even
if it’s a counterfeit, there are different grades. Heh! What a pity. Even if you carry an Hermès, you still can’t
become a true socialite!”
“You—”
The man raised his hand slightly and quickly disappeared into the crowd of the mall. “Spend the money in your
account wisely!”
In fact, he did not mention one thing. The person his boss wanted to use had to be a suitable puppet. Gia was too
independent and would not be someone who obediently followed orders. They could control her with money for
now. What about the future?
If she successfully impersonated Pamela, gained the Thompsons’ trust, and married into the Hamertons, she would
turn her back on them! They would not obtain anything they desired. It was better to keep her in Jangasas and
restrain Lina, ensuring that Lina’s identity would never be revealed.
At the Thompson residence in Centrolis…
Zuko met Pamela there, who had been missing for so many years.
She was fair-skinned, delicate, and obedient. Zuko was momentarily stunned when he saw her for the first time. He
had initially assumed that this Pamela they had found was an impersonator, but he suddenly felt that his judgment
might have been wrong this time.
He glanced at his parents. Zephyr and Cordelia shared the same expression of confusion.
“Pammy, greet them!” Linda held the girl’s hand. She had been holding her daughter’s hand like that for the past
few days. Even when sleeping, she would stay by her daughter’s side quietly, kissing her hand repeatedly, unwilling
to let go even for a moment.
Pamela lowered her head slightly. She had a beautiful oval face with not overly stunning features but pleasant to
look at. What surprised Zuko even more was that she resembled Nicholas slightly.
Toph whispered in Zuko’s ear, “Zuko, do you think she looks like Uncle Nicholas?”
Zuko remained silent for a moment and replied softly, “A little.”
“I think… it might just be an illusion,” muttered Toph. “Even if you put two strangers together, you’ll start to think
they look alike after a long time. We’re all human beings with two eyes and one mouth. There’s nothing special…”
Realization struck Zuko as he found the explanation quite reasonable.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLost in thought, he was abruptly jolted by a soft voice calling him, “Zuko.”
Zuko froze.
Pamela stood in front of him, nodding slightly as a gesture of greeting.
Zuko’s expression changed slightly, showing a polite but distant coldness toward her.
Hearty peals of laughter echoed from the entrance hall. Nicholas strode in, accompanied by another man. Zuko
followed the sound and saw a man similar in age and appearance to Nicholas. Both of them were engaged in a
lively conversation as they walked.
“Zephyr, Cordelia, you’re all here too!” Nicholas exclaimed with excitement. “Let me introduce you. He’s my
younger cousin, Melvin… My daughter’s return is all thanks to him!”
Melvin waved his hand, revealing a deep smile. “Actually, I just got lucky. In any case, my niece is also a Thompson!
How could a Thompson child be left to wander outside?
“I’m glad to have helped my cousin this time!” Melvin spoke earnestly and choked up as he continued. “Seeing their
family reunited, I feel that the hardships of these past 20 years were not in vain…”
Melvin’s eyes turned red. “Nicholas, Linda, you must stay happy!”
Nicholas and Linda were emotional individuals, so tears welled up in their eyes upon hearing his words.
Zephyr patted Nicholas’ shoulder while Cordelia busied herself comforting Linda.
Toph also went over to cheer them up. Only Zuko seemed to be detached, observing everything with a cold
demeanor.
When he inadvertently made eye contact with Pamela, the girl paused for a moment before quickly lowering her
head, nervously fiddling with her skirt.