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Toph gazed at Arya, utterly astonished.
Renee had never uttered such words to him. When they were close, he was the one showering her with
compliments. Now that they had drifted apart—apart from urging him to fight for his inheritance against Zuko and
criticizing his drawings as having no future—she remained silent.
A sharp pain pierced his heart when he heard Arya's words, causing his eyes to well up with tears.
"Hey!" Arya was taken aback and quickly comforted him. "What's wrong? It's alright!"
"I'm okay." He sniffled. "I'm just so happy... Your approval means the world to me!"
"I'm actually quite lonely at home," he confessed. "My parents don't understand art. While my brother appreciates
it, art is just a hobby for him, not a career. My grandma is an artist, but she lives in Southeast Aciatic. It's far away,
and I can't always talk to her.
"Now that I have the opportunity to create comics, I..." He became emotional as he spoke, only managing to regain
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇthis composure after a while.
Arya smiled and handed him the draft. "Since you have a passion for art, stay determined! But I must warn you, it's
not an easy path. I drew for seven years before gaining recognition. I worked for various studios and sometimes
didn't even get credit for my work..."
She gazed at him with clear eyes. "Can you endure hardships, Toph?"
"Absolutely!" Toph replied without hesitation. "All the challenges are worth it when you're doing something you
love!"
"I agree!" Arya's dimples made her look even cuter when she smiled.
There was a saying that went: "You can only go far when you do something you love."
Even if the outcome wasn't satisfying, there would be no regrets as long as one wholeheartedly pursued what they
loved.
Toph was a man of his word. He grabbed the drawing board and pen immediately, starting the new design with high
spirits. Arya stood behind him, offering suggestions on various details.
The two were so engrossed that they didn't realize the sky had turned dark. Their rumbling stomachs snapped them
back to reality, and they shared a hearty laugh.
The Hamerton household, which had been gloomy for days, had finally regained its usual liveliness.
Wendy was overjoyed and busied herself by bringing out an array of snacks before disappearing into the kitchen to
prepare Toph's favorite dishes.
Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Toph's smile. "He's finally smiling."
"All thanks to Arya," Zephyr murmured.
Cordelia frowned and glanced at him. He appeared composed, devoid of emotion.
'All thanks to Arya...' she thought.
She sighed and glanced at him reproachfully. "Do you realize that your absent-minded words could stir up so much
chaos?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Are you criticizing me?" Zephyr smiled cryptically. "You took the ring back!"
"I-I took it back to resize it!" she protested.
"Quit being stubborn." Zephyr held her shoulders.
They had been married for years—he knew her thoughts all too well.
The excuse of resizing the ring was too transparent.
"I just feel sorry for Renee," Cordelia murmured, leaning into his embrace.
"She's had it tough, but what about Toph?" Zephyr's gaze turned fierce. "I'm upset she bullied our son!"
Cordelia chuckled.
Someone had once said he would be strict with his sons, letting them face their troubles and pains on their own. He
would not intervene.
But now, he was no longer the stern father. He had become protective and would shield his children at any cost.
"Why are you smiling, wifey?"
"Nothing." She pouted. "I was just thinking about someone who claimed that Toph's life had been too smooth as he
grew up, that it wasn't a good thing. They said he needed to experience some hardship. I wonder who said that."
"Oh..." He paused. "He has endured enough hardship."
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