Someone slowly emerged from the shadows.
Zuko was dumbfounded and stammered after a long time, “Ah… Uncle Nicholas?”
Nicholas had his hands behind his back as he walked up to them, his eyes fixed on Zuko. Lina was still in the position
of having her legs wrapped around Zuko’s waist, her arms around his neck, and hanging onto him.
Zuko could clearly sense… a killing intent from his Uncle Nicholas’ gaze! He jolted and quickly put Lina down,
flashing a wince at the older man.
“Um… Good evening, Uncle Nicholas. You’re still awake? I’ve brought Lina back… Heh…”
Nicholas looked stern, and his displeased gaze pierced through Zuko like needles.
Although it was known that his daughter and this young man had been promised to each other since childhood—
destined to be together sooner or later—and that it was good that they were close to each other, knowing his
daughter was in a romantic relationship and actually seeing it with his own eyes were two completely different
matters for a father.
Nicholas pursed his lips, usually treating the two Hamerton young men like his own sons, but today, he felt that
Zuko was nothing more than a toad trying to snatch his precious little princess!
This brat had the audacity to send her back so late at night and then linger at the doorstep. He even scared Lina
like that! He was truly… asking for trouble!
Nicholas cleared his throat a couple of times, and Lina’s face turned slightly red. She hurriedly ran over and stood
behind her father.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtZuko smiled politely and started to back up. “Um, Uncle Nicholas, it’s getting late, so I’ll…”
“Well, go home early,” Nicholas said with a serious expression. “And don’t be out so late next time!”
Zuko nodded his head vigorously.
The Thompsons’ gate opened and closed, and the father and daughter soon disappeared into the night’s darkness.
There was still a distance after entering the courtyard gate. Lina cautiously followed behind Nicholas, looking at his
slightly aged figure and realizing that he had stayed up so late and waited outside the gate for her.
She suddenly felt a pang in her heart. She thought of Jesse, who used to dote on her like this. He would pick her up
from school and protect her, so no boy would dare to harass her.
Lina’s eyes went red, her nose tingling, but her heart was filled with happiness.
Nicholas paused his steps and turned around to ask her softly, “Lina, what’s wrong?”
Lina asked, “You… Have you been waiting here for me?”
“Oh.” Nicholas smiled. “It’s nothing, really. Since I’m old, I don’t sleep well anyway. I thought I might as well take a
walk!
“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” He suddenly realized and hurriedly explained, “Lina, I… I’m not worried about you
and Zuko. I just… Well, forget it. If you don’t like it, I won’t wait at the doorstep anymore, okay?
“Lina, please… don’t be angry with me! Dad’s wrong this time, but I promise to make it right next time. Don’t be
mad, okay?”
The influential and powerful Nicholas Thompson was just a humble father in front of his daughter.
“I’m not angry with you.” Lina’s tears welled up in her eyes. She gently went up to him and held onto his arm with
her small hand. “I’m just worried that staying up so late isn’t good for your health.”
Nicholas stood there, stunned, his ears buzzing, thinking he must have misheard it.
“Y-You’re worried about me?”
“Mm.” Lina looked into his eyes. “Not only you but also mom.”
“Your mother couldn’t sleep at first either, but she said she must listen to you, so she took her medicine quickly…
Heh, she fell asleep shortly after taking the medicine and—”
Nicholas suddenly stopped talking!
“Hold on.” The shock was evident on his face as he asked her with a trembling voice, “W-What… What did you just
call her?”
“Mom.”
Lina’s voice was very soft and incredibly clear on this serene night.
“Dad.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting for so long.”
Nicholas held his breath, his heart thumping.
Time seemed to have stood still at that moment. He felt as if he had been trapped in a vacuum as if he could hear
the sound of his own blood flowing through his body.
It was as if Pammy had never left him but had just grown up in an instant…
Nicholas’ lips trembled, unable to say a word. Tears streamed down his face, and he laughed as he wiped them
away. He laughed while explaining, “I… I don’t want to cry! What’s wrong with these tears…
“Linda! Linda!
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Ian! Evelyn! Gary!
“All of you, come out! Hahaha…”
Nicholas laughed like a madman and shouted like a lunatic. In no time, the entire Thompson estate was brightly lit.
The housekeepers and service staff, who had been sleeping, rubbed their sleepy eyes and rushed to the courtyard
to see what was going on.
Linda, wearing pajamas and slippers, her hair disheveled, stormed out.
“Nicholas Thompson! What the hell are you doing going crazy in the middle of the night!? I finally managed to get a
good night’s sleep, and you—”
Before she finished speaking, she caught sight of Lina standing in the courtyard.
Linda regretted not maintaining her composure in front of her daughter.
In the blink of an eye, she changed her demeanor, returning to her usual elegant and graceful appearance in front
of Lina. She smiled gently, and her tone softened. “Nicholas, what’s going on? Pammy, did he drink? Don’t be
afraid… Heh, uh, that’s just his way. When he drinks a little, he goes crazy. I’ll teach him a lesson later!
“Evelyn, help Lina back to her room first!”
Just as Linda was about to go forward and grab Nicholas’ ear, Nicholas excitedly grabbed her hand with a beaming
face.
“Linda, listen!” Nicholas looked at Lina. “Listen to what she called us.”
Linda looked puzzled.
Meanwhile, Lina walked between them, one hand on her father’s arm and another embracing her mother, smiling
sweetly at them.