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Zuko smiled as he held Lina’s hands, knowing she would face this day alone. He couldn’t replace her, but he could
be there for her.
“This is your home, Lina,” he said, playing with her hair. “Your parents will be home soon. It’s a new beginning for
you.”
Lina said, her voice filled with worry, “But I—”
“I know,” Zuko interrupted gently, looking into her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring your parents from Jangasas when
I’m done here.”
Lina’s eyes filled with gratitude. He was the only one who would go to such lengths for her.
Still worried, she lowered her head and hesitated. “But what if they won’t come?”
“You’re their daughter, no matter what,” Zuko reassured her, his gaze gentle. “Lina, I promised that you won’t be
separated from your family.”
Nodding slowly, Lina let go of his hand.
Zuko then turned his attention to Renee and smiled. “I have something to do tonight. Please take care of Lina for
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtme.”
“Sure, I got it!” Renee replied, her voice filled with determination.
Zuko waved at Lina from the doorway before disappearing into the night. Lina still felt uneasy, but then a soft hand
grabbed her arm.
When she turned to face Renee, she saw her cousin’s pure and bright smile. “Lina, I’ll take you to your room,
okay?”
Lina smiled back at her, realizing that they were cousins and that Renee was half a month younger. The room they
were heading to had been kept by Nicholas and Linda for Pammy all these years.
“That room is the place Aunt and Uncle cared about the most. It’s also the best room in this house,” Renee
explained. “I’ve changed the sheets, and everything is clean. I’ve never touched anything in the room because
they’re all yours—”
Lina interrupted her with a grateful expression. “Renee…”
“They made a great effort to find you, cuz,” Renee said, holding Lina’s hand. “Don’t disappoint them, okay?”
Her words touched Lina, but she couldn’t help but feel uncertain. “Perhaps I’ll disappoint them…”
Renee widened her eyes in surprise. “What do you mean?”
As they walked through the courtyard, Lina fell silent momentarily before speaking. “I’ve been a mess these past
few days… I don’t know why this happened to me. Why am I Lina? How did I become Pamela?”
Renee tried to comfort her, holding her hand tighter. “Hey… Maybe your mom has something to deal with? Isn’t it
better to have another pair of parents who love you? Moreover, you would have grown up with Aunt Linda and
Uncle Nic if you weren’t taken away. Your love for them would be just as deep.”
Lina agreed, but doubts still lingered. “Hmm, Zuko said the same thing… But still…”
Renee stopped and faced her. “Cuz, do you know what my name means?”
Lina was curious. “What?”
Renee’s smile had a hint of mockery. “My name doesn’t mean anything. My dad gave it to me without much
thought. Maybe to him, I’m just a weed that nobody cares about. He plucks me when he needs me and leaves me
to die when he doesn’t.”
Lina felt sorry for her cousin and quickly grabbed her hand. “I know you need time to adapt, but I accept you. As for
my biological parents… I just need some time.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmRenee smiled, relieved by Lina’s words. “Thank you, Lina. And remember, you have one more person who loves
you now. Double the love for you too!”
“You too,” Lina replied with a heartfelt smile. “You’ll have one more person who loves you.”
Renee looked surprised but pleased. They continued walking, and the maid served them juice. It was a tradition for
Renee to have fresh juice every night, replenishing her vitamins.
“What juice is it today?” Renee asked.
The maid replied, “It’s honey pomelo juice. Ms. Pammy is home, so you deserve a special juice.”
Renee glanced at the maid, feeling a bit unfamiliar with her. But she brushed it off, thinking she was overthinking.
As they prepared to drink the juice, the maid spoke again, her voice filled with hidden malice. “Because I’m taking
both of you somewhere fun!”
Lina and Renee felt dizzy and soon lost consciousness, but they could still move.
They only heard one thing. “Come, come here…”
A few people appeared and followed the maid.
“They’re meeting our employers at the hospital,” the maid instructed the driver. “Drive to the hospital. I’m taking
them there!”
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