جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 1490

Chris paused, then embraced her even tighter. Edward chuckled and excused himself to fetch some hot water.The mountain air had turned a bit chilly, and the desolate surroundings stirred up unpleasant memories deep within Lena."I ran away from there after growing up, and I've never dared to return," she whispered. "Even though I came here to teach in this mountainous region, I can never cross that mountain.""It's okay," Chris reassured her, gently caressing her hair. "There's nothing worth missing in that place. Plus, he's not your biological father."Lena looked up at him. "Chris, can I ever overcome this mountain? Do you think it's possible?"Chris' heart tightened. As he gazed into her bright eyes, he found himself at a loss for words."Lenny, you don't need to conquer everything in life. We won't be staying here, and this mountain won't relocate to Centrolis. This may be the last time you see this mountain in your life."So, avoiding it isn't a bad thing." He smiled tender

"But—" Before Bianca could finish, Chris had already walked back into the guesthouse.Bianca stomped her feet in frustration but couldn't express her anger. Unable to gain an advantage, she decided to visit the school in the afternoon to find a child to replace herself.When school ended, few people remained, just a few students cleaning the classrooms. Despite the old equipment and basic facilities, these girls cherished them, diligently cleaning every corner.They chatted excitedly about their upcoming trip. Even though they were heading to a big city, they stayed dedicated. Several girls joined hands and pledged to study hard, promising to change their lives when they grew up.Bianca impatiently rolled her eyes.These girls seemed to be the ones at the top of the school's list—the best achievers in this poor school. Replacing them would surely attract Chris and Lena's attention. So, who should she look for?Bianca wandered around a small, rough cement field that barely deserve

"Are you trying to deceive me with small favors?" The boy jeered. "I might not know much about the world, but I do know that if you want to achieve something, you should aim high!"He then kicked over the anthill and walked away.Bianca was shocked by the boy's actions. After standing in the scorching sun for a while, she finally snapped out of her daze and realized it was already evening.The duty teacher began checking the classroom doors and getting ready to leave. The school principal emerged from a slightly better cottage, immediately spotted Bianca, and warmly greeted her."You're... Ms. Mosley, right? I remember you. You came with Ms. Harding and took lots of pictures of our children!"Bianca forced a smile, although her face was pale."Ms. Mosley, why are you here at this time?" The people from the mountains were straightforward and honest. The school principal considered anyone who came with Lena—the one who brought the kids to school in Centrolis—as benefactors. She hel

An elderly man held a dirt broom in his hand, glaring fiercely at Alexander."Is it that little bitch? Is it true?"The man continued. "I heard about it long ago that a Ms. Harding came to the neighboring village. Heh! She even came from Centrolis!"At first, I didn't think much of it. But you've been running over the mountains daily and following her like you're cursed since you went for that one lesson!"It's that little bitch, right? Speak up! Am I right?!"Alexander remained silent, standing there like a statue.Drake Dickinson raised the broom and struck Alexander. The withered broom struck him hard, causing dust to scatter.Bianca widened her eyes as she held her breath, feeling as if the broomstick might fall on her if she made a sound."Enough!" Alexander yelled, turning to glare at Drake. "I want to go to Centrolis. I want to study and attend the best schools. What's wrong with that? My only mistake is being born into this family and being your son!""You—""Not only

"Maybe I just got darker from the sun," Lena said."You must have gone through a lot over there anyway," Lina said.Lena smiled. A worry gnawed at her whenever she wasn't by Lina's side. She feared that Lina might face mistreatment of some sort, akin to how Lina would fret if Lena got bullied in her absence.Zuko and Chris exchanged glances, sharing an unspoken understanding. Those two treated them like they were invisible.Before they could engage in conversation, Zuko and Lina were swarmed and ushered away. Chris couldn't escape socializing either.Lena smiled and returned to her quiet corner.Suddenly, someone handed her a glass of champagne.Lena looked up and saw Elijah standing before her. He had slightly flushed cheeks and a tipsy smile. Adjusting his tie, he nodded toward the balcony.Lena followed him.The balcony was vast and tranquil, a world apart from the bustling banquet hall. The evening breeze brought a refreshing coolness, and the champagne carried a hint of s