Toph gazed at his older brother with astonishment.
Cordelia affectionately patted Toph’s head and approvingly looked at Zuko.
“Zuko is right.” Zephyr nodded. “I still remember how much Melissa doted on Pammy, treating her like her own.
And Melissa had cancer… From that perspective, her situation is similar to Kaitlyn’s.”
Cordelia continued. “But even in such circumstances, she was aware that Pammy is going to marry Zuko, and she
gave her all to prepare a gift for Pammy. A shop and a house might not seem like much to us, and Linda might not
even be interested, but that was everything Melissa could offer!”
“Not only did she give everything, but she also didn’t make any demands from us.” Zephyr looked at Toph with
mixed emotions. “She didn’t ask how much is in your mom’s jewelry box, nor did she ask how much of a share Zuko
has.”
Everyone fell silent at his words.
Toph furrowed his brow as if realizing something, and his heart raced.
Cordelia spoke slowly after a while. “Toph, I suggest you postpone your marriage with Renee temporarily.”
“What?” Toph stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over a cup of tea on the table.
“W-Why?” he exclaimed emotionally. “Renee and I are already talking about marriage. What will she think if I tell
her we need to delay the wedding at this point?”
“Calm down!” Zuko held onto his shoulder. “We’re not saying you can’t get married, just a temporary delay!”
“Don’t touch me!”
“Toph!” Zuko’s expression turned frosty. “Right now, we need to figure out exactly what Aunt Kaitlyn is up to. Once
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtwe’ve clarified that, it won’t be too late for you to get married!”
“What’s there to figure out?” Toph yelled. “She just wants some money, right? We’re not lacking in money! Why do
you all assume everyone is after money and power when you see them? Can’t you think better of people? She’s
Renee’s mother!”
“Watch your language in front of your parents!” Zuko’s demeanor became commanding.
Defiant as Toph was, he fell silent, turned his face away, and sulked without looking at them.
Cordelia stepped forward, patting his shoulder to comfort him. Zephyr seemed stern in his words, but he still felt for
his innocent younger son.
They blamed themselves for protecting him too well.
Toph was naturally more naive and kind-hearted as the youngest in the family. They had always believed that
shielding him from the world’s evil was the best protection, but they were mistaken.
Toph lacked the scheming and resilience of Zuko, putting him at a disadvantage in certain matters.
“I don’t want to hear it!” This was the first time Toph had defied his mother so strongly.
Cordelia was momentarily stunned, and Toph swiftly dashed out.
Zephyr was both angry and worried.
“Zuko, go after your younger brother! Don’t let anything happen!”
Zuko agreed and hurriedly went after him.
Unexpectedly, Toph ran off quickly enough to ask the manor’s driver to take him to the horse ranch up the hill.
He picked his favorite horse and began riding it in wild circles. The wind whistled past his ears, and his mind buzzed
like thousands of bees were inside.
He couldn’t understand all the concerns his parents and older brother had. He believed that as long as he loved
Renee and she loved him, it would be the most perfect marriage.
Moreover, his parents had never cared about matching social status.
Toph’s mind was in disarray. He fiercely cracked the whip, and the horse sped off, kicking up dust.
After a while, someone caught up from behind. It was Zuko, riding a horse, circling alongside Toph.
Toph blinked and picked up the pace, but Zuko, skilled in horsemanship, easily kept up with him.
Frustrated, Toph squeezed the horse’s sides.
“Have you lost your mind?” Zuko yelled, intercepting the panicked horse just before it went berserk. He worked
hard to calm it down.
Once the horses settled, the two brothers also became calmer as they circled the riding arena slowly.
“Do you know how dangerous your behavior was just now?” Zuko’s expression remained stern. “What if you had
fallen and been seriously injured? What would Renee do? What would our parents do?”
Toph lowered his head, not arguing or defending himself. He admitted he was wrong, acting impulsively without
considering the consequences, and understood Zuko’s valid reprimanding.
“You need to mature as well.” Zuko patted his shoulder. “Despite your straightforward and simple nature, you’ve
never acted like this before.”
“Zuko, are you mocking me?” Toph glanced at him. “It’s easy for you to say… If it were you postponing your
wedding, do you think you’d be this composed? You might be even crazier than me!”
Zuko was taken aback. The assumption didn’t seem entirely wrong. Seeing things as an outsider was always
clearer. It was natural for Toph to be emotional since he was directly involved.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
“Don’t blame our parents, and don’t blame me for being frank,” Zuko said softly. “Sometimes, you oversimplify
things. With all of us protecting you at home, what will you do when we’re not around anymore? You need to be
more cautious.”
“But she’s Renee’s mother!” Toph sighed helplessly. “What am I supposed to be cautious about with her? She’s an
ill, uneducated middle-aged woman. What’s there to be cautious about?”
“Do you really believe everything she says? Do you really think she’s trying to secure benefits for Renee?”
“What else could it be?”
“Toph…” Zuko felt his throat tighten. He hesitated for a moment and decided to reveal the truth. “One time, Aunt
Kaitlyn had a dispute with Lena at the Thompsons’. Lena saw her hanging around Uncle Nicholas’ study…”
“What?”
“Lena mentioned that Aunt Kaitlyn’s behavior was unusual.”
Toph gazed at Zuko in silence, but his eyes betrayed his anger.
“Toph?”
“What does Lena want?” Toph yelled furiously.
Zuko was stunned, witnessing the transformation of his once-spirited brother into someone else.
“I’ve had a feeling something was off about her for a while now! An outsider meddling so much! She hardly speaks,
but her eyes glare at people with an eerie intensity!
“I’m going to find her and sort things out. Who does she think she is to quarrel with Aunt Kaitlyn? Why does she
consider Aunt Kaitlyn abnormal?”
As Toph finished speaking, he dismounted from his horse and turned to run.
Zuko’s heart lurched. Had Toph lost his rationality? Was he planning to cause trouble at the Thompsons’?