After the triplets left, Denise caught up to Anthony.
“Tony, you're giving up just like this without any plans to ask further?”
While walking, Anthony countered, “If not? Can you get an answer out of them?”
At a loss for words, Denise quickened her pace to match her brother's speed. “But there's even lesser hope of us getting an answer if we don't ask!”
“In that case, we'll just stop asking.”
Denise's brows scrunched together. “So, you're really giving up?”
Without warning, Anthony abruptly halted in his tracks and snapped his head back to stare at her. “Giving up doesn't exist in my vocabulary!”
Denise was stumped for a moment. “What, then?”
“Then, we'll naturally do this another way,” Benjamin interjected, stepping forward and resting a hand on her shoulder.
Faltering, Denise eyed both her brothers. “So, how are we going to do that?”
Benjamin pursed his lips. “We'll need your help in this.”
“How so?” Denise arched a brow.
“When Thalia wakes up, ask her about it and see what she says,” Benjamin suggested.
At once, Denise was rendered speechless. “Are you sure this is another way and not you making me cannon fodder?”
Benjamin snapped his eyes up and stole a glance at Anthony. Subsequently, his gaze fell on Denise. “Tony has some conflict with Thalia, so he definitely wouldn't do it. Thus, you're the only person left.”
“What about you?” Denise demanded.
“It goes without saying that I have something else to do!” Benjamin fibbed.
“What is it?” Denise pressed.
Benjamin's lips pressed into a thin line. “Well...”
“What's wrong? Can't I know about it?” Denise questioned with her gaze boring into his eyes.
“Of course, you can. It's just that...”
“Hah! You can't think of any excuses, so you don't know what to say, right?” Denise huffed.
Benjamin merely looked at her, not quite sure what to say for a moment.
“Just admit it if you're treating me as cannon fodder, Ben. What's the point in having it so high-sounding and justified?” Denise scoffed.
That left Benjamin without a retort. “That's not true.”
“If so, why don't you go instead, Ben?” Denise proposed.
Words promptly eluded Benjamin.
At that exact moment, Anthony chimed in, “Indeed, Ben has something else to do.”
Both Benjamin and Denise jerked their heads back at him.
Anthony hooked a finger at them, upon which they leaned close to him.
He then bent and whispered something into their ears. After Benjamin and Denise heard that, understanding gradually showed in their gazes.
“Do you both understand?” Anthony asked.
“I do, but will it really work?” Denise wondered.
“Let's just try it. Perhaps it might work,” Benjamin asserted.
Upon hearing that, Denise bobbed her head in acquiescence. “All right, then.”
In the room, Thalia slowly roused.
No sooner had she opened her eyes than two little heads leaned close to her.
“You're awake?”
“How are you feeling, Thalia? Are you okay?”
As Thalia looked at Benjamin and Denise before her, she felt her head spinning. However, she swiftly recovered.
She made to sit up, upon which Denise hastily hurried forward and helped to support her.
Noticing that she was in a familiar room, Thalia frowned. “Why am I here?”
“Spencer and Nat brought you back!” Denise answered.
At the mention of Natasha's name, Thalia slowly remembered the chain of events that transpired before she fell unconscious.
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