"Dad!" Persephone frowned. "Did I say something wrong? What you're worried about is
that if there are any rumors about Morpheus and me, it might hinder potential alliances
with other families, right?
"I want to decide my marriage for myself! I'm not a pawn for alliances, and I refuse to pick
someone I don't like among these families just for the Hamertons' benefit!"
"Quiet!" Lina glared at her. "You're becoming more disrespectful, shouting like this at your
parents!"
Persephone stopped speaking, but her chest heaved with emotions, and her hands
trembled.
"Protecting the interests of the entire Hamerton family is the responsibility of every
Hamerton!" Zuko spoke sternly. "Your marriage is not solely your decision. Even if you
choose, it must be with someone from a compatible background!
"Besides, our main concern is for you!" Zuko was angry. "Morpheus isn't someone we can
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtentrust you to. You can't be with him!" "Why not?" Persephone's voice trembled, and her
eyes welled up with tears. "During those days in Flinge, if it weren't for him taking care of
me, you might not have seen me again! And in the end, he took a bullet for me... That
scar is still on him!"
"You shouldn't sacrifice your entire life just because of this!" Lina raised her voice. "He
took care of you in Flinge and saved you. We appreciate him for that. But gratitude is one
thing while being with him is another!"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know about his background?" Lina's gaze turned stern, staring Persephone
straight in the eyes. "Do you understand what kind of person he really is? Do you know
what he went through in the past? I heard he survived on a chaotic street in Flinge before
meeting you... How can we trust someone like that to take care of you?!"
"Mom—"
Lina spoke with gravity. "Sephy, our family has already dealt with a Seamus. Your father
and I can't bear a second one!"
"He's not like Seamus!" Persephone defended.
"Does that show on his face?" Zuko scolded loudly. "Persephone, where's your common
sense? Haven't you learned from your previous mistake?
"Seamus was raised in the Hamertons. We watched him grow up! He was close to you
since childhood, but his motives were so deceptive... He spent years pretending, catching
us off guard! If Seamus was like that, how can we possibly trust Morpheus?"
"Alright. Let's talk to our daughter properly. Why are you getting so worked up?" Lina
hurried over to calm Zuko down, giving him a meaningful glance.
Zuko calmed down and looked at Persephone. His daughter stood there, head slightly
lowered, tears swirling in her eyes. Still, she held them back from falling.
Ever since she was little, this was her stubborn temperament. Most kids would cry out loud
when wronged, but she held back her tears until she couldn't anymore, not wanting
anyone to see.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
"Sephy, your dad and I only want what's best for you," Lina said gently. "We won't mistreat
Morpheus, but we also won't trade your lifelong happiness to repay him."
After saying that, the two of them left helplessly.
Persephone bit her lip, feeling a sense of powerlessness welling up inside her.
"Mom and Dad are doing this for your own good."—was this love or a shackle?
At that moment, her phone rang. It was a message from Morpheus with an address, asking
her to meet there. She checked it, a fairly unfamiliar place.
"You'll find out once you get here," Morpheus said. "I have something I want to talk to you
about."
"Perfect, I also have something to discuss with you. But... I'll need some time before I can
leave."
There was a moment of silence on the phone, then Morpheus' low voice came through.
"Have you been crying?"