Zuko scratched his nose, hesitating, before taking Lina’s hand and heading to the store. The emotions he was
experiencing at the moment were beyond words. It felt as if all the spices had been spilled and mixed together,
something he thought only happened in literature.
Zuko had always believed that he was a person capable of controlling his emotions. However, at that very moment,
he was overjoyed yet overwhelmed by an indescribable sadness and pain.
As they walked, memories flooded Zuko’s mind. He recalled holding Pammy’s hand when they were young, guiding
her as she took her first steps. They had lost each other for 20 years, and he never imagined that she would come
back to him in this way.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThese thoughts echoed in his head as he recalled others’ comments about Lina.
“Bro, I realized that Lina looks like Aunt Linda from certain angles!”
“Look at them, they’ve just met, but they act like sisters!”
“Zeke, I’m telling you, Jesse and Melissa raised an outstanding daughter like Lina. How could people like them do
that?”
Zuko’s heart raced, and without realizing it, he held Lina’s hand tightly, causing her to cry out, “It hurts!”
Startled, Zuko snapped back to his senses. “Oh, I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?”
Concerned, Lina rubbed her reddened hand and asked, “What’s wrong with you? You don’t look too good. Did
something happen?”
Zuko took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. “Lina, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Surprisingly, Lina replied with a smile, “What a coincidence. There’s something I want to tell you too!”
He was taken aback, watching her laugh and pull him into the store while skipping. Once inside and away from
prying eyes, they sat together behind the counter.
“What is it that you need to tell me?” Lina asked, her smile radiant as she leaned against Zuko’s shoulder.
Zuko was touched by her words and the love she received from her adoptive parents. They had treated her as their
own, and now they were transferring the house and store to her. It made him realize how deeply they cared for
her, despite not sharing any blood relation.
He said, looking at her, “Lina, maybe it’s time I tell your mom the truth. She has been treating me like a son-in-law,
giving me orders and all. I feel bad about it. An old house and a store don’t mean much to me. Though… I know it’s
everything your mom could offer.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLina’s eyes filled with warmth as she replied, “You silly man.” She smiled while playing with his hair.
It was then that Zuko decided to reveal everything to Lina, to take her for a DNA test and share his past with her.
He wanted to bring her back to Centrolis, to the world where she truly belonged.
But hearing Lina mention that Melissa was giving her the old house and store created a dilemma for Zuko.
He had witnessed the hardships Nicholas and Linda endured all these years, yet he couldn’t harbor any resentment
toward Jesse and Melissa. If he told the truth, Lina would be the first one to be hurt.
“Oh, by the way, Zuko,” Lina interrupted his train of thought. “You mentioned there was something you needed to
tell me. What is it?”