Tony remained silent after hearing Thalia's words. Instead, he only stared into her eyes.
Seeing that, Thalia had no choice but to give in. She gazed at him, saying, “Okay, okay. It was my fault. I chased you out in a fit of anger the other day. I didn't mean it that way.”
“I know,” said Tony when she finished her sentence. Gazing at him curiously, she asked, “You knew? How?”
“I didn't at first, but after what happened at the coffee shop and the incidents after that, I guessed that was the case.”
Thalia felt a little guilty at the mention of the coffee shop.
That meant that she could no longer hide some things from them. “What do you know?” Thalia asked softly, casting him a guilty glance.
He stared at her for a while before saying, “There's something wrong with your body.” For some reason, his words made her heart tremble.
Thalia knew he was smart, but she never expected him to figure it out.
Even so, Thalia was adamant about denying it. She murmured softly, “Who said so? What kind of problem can my body have? Don't spout nonsense.”
“You should know whether or not I'm spouting nonsense the best. Thalia, I just need an honest answer from you,” said Tony .
Thalia gazed at him, pressing her lips together. Just as she was about to say something, Tony uttered, “This is the first and the last time I'm asking you this formally. So, you'd better think carefully before answering.”
Thalia was rendered speechless by his words.
Tony had interrupted her before she could even use the response she had come up with to dismiss the topic.
Hence, she simply stared at him, not knowing what to say.
Just as Thalia was coming up with an answer, Donna suddenly appeared out of nowhere, threw herself into the former's embrace, and burst into tears.
Befuddled, Thalia looked at Donna , who was half her height, and then at Ben , who was standing at a distance not too far away. She froze for a moment before asking, “W-What's wrong?”
“Why... Why aren't you telling us?” Donna sobbed. “What am I not telling?” Thalia asked blankly.
“I know about it. I know about everything. Why aren't you telling us the truth, Thalia? Why do you have to bear such a burden on your own?” Donna questioned with tears flowing down her cheeks.
When Thalia heard that, she was at a loss for words. After all, it was her personal matter. Moreover, she was not afraid of death. Yet, Donna 's reaction filled Thalia's heart with inexplicable emotion.
Thalia was not great at comforting others. Casting Tony and Ben a helpless gaze, she said to Donna , “There, there. Don't cry. I'm fine, really!”
“How could you say you're fine? I know about it already. If we didn't overhear Daddy's conversation with Spencer, we would still be kept in the dark. Were you planning on keeping it a secret from us if we didn't bring it up?” Donna asked as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked so pitiful that it ached everyone's hearts.
At that, Thalia hurriedly wiped the tears off Donna 's face. “It's really nothing. Spencer says he can develop a medicine. Hence, I won't die—so don't worry, okay?”
Hearing that, Donna paused and looked at Thalia. Her eyes, which were filled with tears earlier, reddened instantly.
Thalia was stunned by her silence. “W-What's wrong now?”
Donna merely gazed at Thalia. The former was only acting earlier. This time, however, she was truly upset.
“You're finally telling the truth,” Tony piped up. Thalia's gaze fixed on him.
Glancing at both Tony and Donna , Thalia finally understood what was going on. “You guys tricked me?”
“How were we supposed to make you tell the truth otherwise?” asked Ben as he made his way to her.
World eluded Thalia.
I can't believe an esteemed person like me got tricked by three brats.
Feeling frustrated and exasperated, she questioned, “Don't you think that's a little inappropriate of you all?”
Tony and Ben stared at her without saying a word.
Just then, Donna tugged at the hem of Thalia's shirt and asked, “Thalia, will you die?”
Hearing those words, Thalia, who was originally mad, felt her heart soften when she saw Donna 's reddened eyes.
There was a flicker in her eyes as she squatted so her eyes were at the same level as Donna 's.
“Donna , did you know that death is a part of life no one can run away from? For some people, it happens a little earlier. And for some, it happens later.”
“I want it to happen later for you, like really, really late,” said Donna . For some reason, Thalia's nose stung.
Of course, smiling at such a time was hard for anyone.
Seeing Donna was not smiling, Thalia reached out and gently pinched the former's cheeks to form a smile. “This is more like it. Little princesses look better when they smile.”
However, the more Thalia behaved that way, the harder it was for the children to smile. Tears flowed down Donna 's cheeks, showing no signs of stopping.
“There, there. It's fine. Besides, I have Spencer. He's got great medical skills, and he loves me so much. He won't let me die just like that.”
For some reason, Donna let out a chuckle after hearing that.
Seeing that, Thalia chirped, “Now that's more like it. You look better when you smile. Hold on. What made you laugh?”
Donna shook her head and murmured, “Nothing.”
“Don't give me that. Do you really think I know nothing? Tell you what. The fact that I came back for good is all because Spencer begged me to. You guys witnessed it as well.”
“Yes, we know.” Donna nodded.
“Exactly. He likes me, but he's just too shy to admit it. Hence, there's nothing wrong with my statement earlier,” said Thalia with a haughty look.
Regardless of whether she was comforting them or being optimistic, the children understood one thing—if they could not avoid the sorrow, they should bury it in the bottom of their hearts. The most important thing during that period was to make her as happy as possible, no matter the ending.
At that thought, Donna composed herself and nodded with a smile. “You're right. Spencer's incredible and loves you so much. He definitely won't let anything happen to you.”
“Yep. That's right.” Thalia bobbed her head happily when she heard that.
“Please have a seat, Thalia,” prompted Donna while taking Thalia's arm to have the latter seated on the chair.
After sitting down, Thalia said, “I'm fine. I'm poisoned, not wounded. You don't have to take care of me like that.”
“It's the same. Yes, you're not wounded, but you're still a sick person who needs to be taken good care of,” insisted Donna .
Hearing that, Thalia raised a brow. “Really?” “Of course.”
“Then... Will you do anything I ask of you?” queried Thalia.
Donna gave it some thought before nodding. “Yeah. As long as it's something I can do.”
“Help me bring Tony over,” said Thalia. Pausing briefly, she could not help but mutter, “I've already apologized to him, yet he's still being so awkward.”
Hearing that, Donna immediately agreed, “That's not a problem.”
With that, she walked over to Tony , who was standing on the side. He frowned when he saw Donna approaching.
“Tony, come here!” Donna went up and grabbed his hand.
“No!”
Nonetheless, Donna had no intentions of giving up. “Tony, if you insist on not going over, then don't blame me for pulling out my trump card.”
Tony knitted his brows, but he resisted less.
Noting that, Donna hurriedly pulled him over to Thalia and said, “Here you go.” “Good job!” praised Thalia.
Tony rolled his eyes and looked away.
Shifting her gaze onto him, Thalia said, “Tsk. Look at you. You're being as difficult as a girl while your sister can be so comfortable around me. How can a little girl be better than you?”
Upon hearing that, Tony refuted, “Donna didn't get into an argument with you!”
“Oh, that means you're still mad, huh? But I've already apologized to you. How could a man like you be so petty?” chaffed Thalia.
Tony rebuked, “Who says I'm mad?”
“Then why are you acting like this?” asked Thalia.
Pondering for a while, he walked over to the side and sat on a chair. “It's nothing. I just don't feel like talking.”
Thalia snickered. “All right. Since you've said that, it means you're not mad at me, right?” Tony kept his head low and said nothing.
“Is your silence a yes?” asked Thalia.
Whether or not Tony spoke did not do him any good at that moment.
“Okay! Tony 's got such a big heart. He's really different. How impressive!” Thalia praised continuously.
If Tony were to say anything at that moment, he would only be humiliating himself. Meanwhile, Donna giggled when he saw Tony at a loss for words.
Only Thalia could make Tony look so defeated.
Seeing that, Ben sauntered over and found a place to sit down. He glanced at Thalia, asking, “Thalia, what kind of poison were you poisoned with?”
The question brought them back to the topic in the end.
When Thalia turned toward Ben , Tony and Donna gazed at her as well. It was as if everyone had been waiting for the conversation to happen.
Thinking about it for a while, Thalia stated, “I would've been cured by now if I knew what poison it was. The thing is, we don't know, and that's what Spencer's worried about.”
“So, that's why Spencer's carrying out experiments in the lab all day and night?” asked Ben .