After the triplets left, Donna caught up to Tony .
“Tony, you're giving up just like this without any plans to ask further?”
While walking, Tony countered, “If not? Can you get an answer out of them?”
At a loss for words, Donna 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.”
Donna 's brows scrunched together. “So, you're really giving up?”
Without warning, Tony abruptly halted in his tracks and snapped his head back to stare at her. “Giving up doesn't exist in my vocabulary!”
Donna was stumped for a moment. “What, then?”
“Then, we'll naturally do this another way,” Ben interjected, stepping forward and resting a hand on her shoulder.
Faltering, Donna eyed both her brothers. “So, how are we going to do that?” Ben pursed his lips. “We'll need your help in this.”
“How so?” Donna arched a brow.
“When Thalia wakes up, ask her about it and see what she says,” Ben suggested.
At once, Donna was rendered speechless. “Are you sure this is another way and not you making me cannon fodder?”
Ben snapped his eyes up and stole a glance at Tony . Subsequently, his gaze fell on Donna . “Tony has some conflict with Thalia, so he definitely wouldn't do it. Thus, you're the only person left.”
“What about you?” Donna demanded.
“It goes without saying that I have something else to do!” Ben fibbed. “What is it?” Donna pressed.
Ben 's lips pressed into a thin line. “Well...”
“What's wrong? Can't I know about it?” Donna 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?” Donna huffed. Ben 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?” Donna scoffed.
That left Ben without a retort. “That's not true.”
“If so, why don't you go instead, Ben?” Donna proposed. Words promptly eluded Ben .
At that exact moment, Tony chimed in, “Indeed, Ben has something else to do.” Both Ben and Donna jerked their heads back at him.
Tony hooked a finger at them, upon which they leaned close to him.
He then bent and whispered something into their ears. After Ben and Donna heard that, understanding gradually showed in their gazes.
“Do you both understand?” Tony asked.
“I do, but will it really work?” Donna wondered.
“Let's just try it. Perhaps it might work,” Ben asserted.
Upon hearing that, Donna 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 Ben and Donna before her, she felt her head spinning. However, she swiftly recovered.
She made to sit up, upon which Donna hastily hurried forward and helped to support her. Noticing that she was in a familiar room, Thalia frowned. “Why am I here?”
“Spencer and Nelly brought you back!” Donna answered.
At the mention of Nelly 's name, Thalia slowly remembered the chain of events that transpired before she fell unconscious.
Just then, Ben asked, “How are you feeling? Are you feeling better now?” In response, Thalia nodded. “Yeah. I'm fine.”
She swept her gaze around the room, yet Ben and Donna were the only ones present. There was no sign of Tony . A trace of disappointment flittered across her eyes.
At that precise moment, the door was pushed open. On the heels of that, Spencer stepped in. When he saw that Thalia had regained consciousness, he immediately rushed over. “You're awake?”
The sight of the man had Thalia's expression change in a flash. Dipping her eyes, she replied icily, “Yeah.”
“I'll check you over!” While saying that, Spencer reached out to take her pulse. Unfortunately, Thalia dodged when his hand was inches away from hers. “I'm fine,” she stated coldly.
Spencer's eyes remained fixed on her, his brows knitting together.
“Thank you for the help. If there's nothing else, please excuse me!” As Thalia spoke, she got out of bed and put on her shoes to leave.
Seeing that, Donna hugged her without delay. “Thalia! Where are you going?”
When Thalia turned her eyes to Donna , her gaze instantly gentled. “This is DX's territory, so it's somewhat inappropriate for me to be here. I'm going back to where I belong.”
“But Darknetz isn't here. Do you really want to leave?” Donna argued. Thalia said nothing to that.
At the side, Ben interjected, “Exactly, Thalia! You aren't fully recovered yet. As such, we'll all worry if you leave. Besides, Alpha Dave definitely wouldn't say anything about it. Just stay and rest here!”
“Even if no one says anything, it doesn't mean that I should stay shamelessly. One should know her place,” Thalia countered.
The instant her words rang out, both Ben and Donna swung their gazes at Spencer behind them. Right then, the man had his eyes lowered, and his brows scrunched together deeply.
Even an idiot would be able to catch Thalia's drift, so he was certainly no exception. Ben and Donna frantically shot him looks, but Spencer merely stood there silently. That had them both beside themselves.
Gah! Why is he just so dense?
“Okay, take good care of yourselves. I'll be leaving first,” Thalia murmured. After putting on her shoes, she got up and walked away.
“Thalia!” Still, Donna tried to persuade her to stay.
At that exact moment, Spencer suddenly lifted his eyes and trained them in Thalia's direction. He headed toward her with great strides.
Grabbing at her, he yanked her back. In the next heartbeat, she fell right into his arms. Thalia gaped at the man in front of her, stunned for a second.
At that very instant, Spencer was also staring straight at her. His gaze flickered, and he said to the two children nearby him in a low voice, “I've got something to discuss with Thalia.”
As soon as Ben and Donna heard that, his meaning dawned upon them.
“In that case, we'll go out first. Take your time chatting!” Donna urged.
Thereafter, the two children astutely left. After going out the door, they even thoughtfully closed it behind them.
Donna stole a final peek of the scene in the room, the corners of her mouth lifting. By then, only the two adults were left in the room.
Glaring at the man in front of her, Thalia struggled to break free from his embrace. “Let go of me!” Alas, Spencer was hugging her too tightly.
With a frown marring her countenance, Thalia glowered at him. “What exactly are you doing?” Spencer gazed at her. “I don't know what I'm doing either... But I know I don't want to let you go!”