Renee looked at the brothers in surprise, her eyes flashing with envy.
"Lina is so lucky," she exclaimed softly.
Zuko signaled his brother, and Toph instantly took her hand, speaking with allure. "I would do the same if similar things happened to you."
"Toph..." She hesitated, biting her lip, and softly removed her hand.
In reality, she wanted to keep her distance from him. She was Melvin's daughter, the one responsible for harming the Thompsons.
How could she deserve to be with Toph?
Even if he didn't reject her, the Hamerton parents might not forgive her.
However, love was a strange thing. The more one tried to control it, the more it slipped away from their grasp.
She discreetly glanced at him, then quickly looked away. She rubbed her hands, gripping the corner of her shirt nervously.
"Oh yeah, about getting Renee to approach Gia..." Zuko paused. "Renee, I'll handle all your student passes and try my best to get you in the same building as Gia."
She nodded earnestly, snapping back to her senses.
"Don't worry, Zuko. I won't mess up." She smiled sincerely, "If she's really Pamela, I'll tell the truth as soon as I return to Jangasas!"
Zuko felt his heart tighten. He pitied the vulnerable girl in front of him even more.
Renee could easily take everything from the Thompsons like a piece of cake. She was clearly living in terrible conditions, and the Thompsons were the perfect stepping stone.
But she didn't. She insisted on returning what didn't belong to her.
So how could Melvin deserve to be her father?
Toph was a little worried. "Renee, I heard that Gia is vicious. Please be careful when you approach her!"
"Vicious?" She was taken aback. "Who said that?"
"My brother!"
Zuko's face changed, and he coughed hard.
Renee chuckled when she realized. "Zuko, did you call Gia vicious because she bullied Lina?"
Since he stopped using a middle person, he contacted her directly.
She tested him a few times, asking why he didn't have her pretend to be Pamela in Centrolis. She would do a better job, for sure!
He would merely scoff.
So what if she could do a better job? How could he allow someone else to benefit from it!?
No matter how dumb and weak Renee was, she was his daughter. Moreover, it was much easier for him to control her!
Gia frowned, feeling as if the words in the book were floating. She had been staring at it but couldn't finish a single sentence.
"Hey?" Renee leaned in to look at her. "Can I sit here?"
"Yes, yes!" Gia replied irritably. "Just sit if you want. Who's stopping you?"
Renee fell silent and sat beside her.
She saw the name "Gia Chapman" written in the book and looked at her face. She looked exactly like the picture Fred had sent.
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