“Go ahead… hit me!” Melvin spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice mumbled. “Ha… It’s futile even if you kill me! If
you do… I’ll take the two of them with me to hell!”
Toph yelled, and the brothers shoved Melvin against the wall. Zuko’s pale joints and trembling hands tightened
around Melvin’s neck. The inability to kill his enemy was tormenting him.
Just then, the interrogation room door swung open, allowing light to flood in. Several officers entered, urging them
to stop.
Someone stood behind them.
Slowly, he walked forward, each step landing heavily on the ground. His presence weighed heavily on him.
Zuko released his grip on Melvin and turned to face the newcomer.
“Uncle Nicholas…”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSorrow flickered across Nicholas’ exhausted face, his sideburns now peppered with silver hair strands. Zuko
remembered how Nicholas’ hair had turned white overnight when he received the devastating news about Pammy
20 years ago. Although he gradually recovered, he was no longer the same majestic man.
He had lost his daughter once and regained her, only to lose her again. His hair had turned silver once more.
Nicholas stood before Melvin, silently watching him. Deep-seated resentment burned in his saddened eyes,
overshadowed only by the pain of losing his daughter.
He was no longer the Nic who ruled the underworld or the powerful boss of Sol Entertainment. He was simply a
father desperate to find his daughter.
Nicholas closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again. He unclenched his trembling fists.
And then, he knelt, his gaze fixed on Melvin.
“Uncle Nicholas…”
Zuko and Toph were taken aback, wanting to help him up, but Nicholas raised his hand, signaling them to stay back.
After a brief pause, he uttered four words, his voice quivering, “I am begging you…”
The brothers’ eyes blazed with anger as they glared at Melvin, seething with resentment.
“I’m begging you, Melvin… Where’s my daughter? Please tell me! Where is she!?”
Melvin stared blankly at Nicholas for a long moment, blood dripping from the corner of his lips. Then, he burst into
hysterical laughter.
This was Nicholas Thompson, who had always been arrogant and self-assured!
But now, he had humbled himself, kneeling before his enemy in the most humiliating manner.
Melvin’s laughter subsided, and with a provocative shake of his head, he denied Nicholas the answers he sought.
Zuko yearned to strike him, but the officers intervened, preventing him from doing so. They then took the severely
beaten Melvin back to prison.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmNicholas remained on the ground, kneeling like a statue, his spirit drained.
Zuko and Toph rushed to his side, helping him up. However, after taking a few steps, Nicholas’ face turned pale, and
he collapsed weakly to the ground.
…
When Lina and Renee regained consciousness, they found themselves in a dimly lit and cramped cabin. Their
bodies ached, their limbs numb.
Struggling to speak, Lina finally managed to call out, “R-Renee?”
Renee made an effort to open her eyes. Alongside Lina’s voice, she heard the distant sound of ocean waves.
“W-Where are we?”
As they gradually regained their senses, they realized they had been abandoned in the confined space of the cabin.
A putrid stench lingered in the stagnant air. The small window allowed only a trickle of light to enter.
In shock, they recoiled when they took in their surroundings.
Several girls, their age similar to Lina and Renee’s, stared at them expressionlessly from within the cabin.