Nelly was deeply touched by Thalia's speech. She had never met anyone before who shared her perspective. Holding back tears, Nelly looked at Thalia and said, "No one in this world is more important than anyone else. Each person is unique and remarkable in their own way. The criteria you mentioned are just additional factors. Should we assume that those without relatives or friends are not worthy of living?"
Thalia realized that Nelly had an uncommon clarity of insight that not many possessed. Her words warmed Thalia's heart, and she knew that she had not misjudged Nelly's character.
In agreement, Thalia nodded and said, "That may be true for others, but you're my friend." Nelly stared at Thalia without saying a word.
Smiling, Thalia said, "Alright, enough. Stop acting like you're too moved for words. Even though I gave you the antidote, I still need your help with finding a solution for more." Nelly nodded at Thalia and replied, "Of course."
Thalia's smile grew wider as she raised her coffee cup and said, "Let's toast to your new chance at life." However, Nelly interrupted and said, "Wait a minute."
Confused, Thalia asked, "What's wrong?"
Nelly motioned for the housekeeper and said, "Bring me the leftover red wine from the other day. Thank you."
While waiting for the housekeeper, Thalia muttered, "Do we really need to start drinking this early in the morning?"
Nelly teased, "You've never tried it before, have you? It's a great experience."
Thalia chuckled in exasperation. "Aren't you afraid that Tony will scold you if he sees this?"
Nelly pointed out, "That's why I'm drinking it while he's not around."
Raising an eyebrow, Thalia said, "Thanks to you, my alcohol tolerance has gotten a lot higher recently."
Nelly flashed a smile. "You're welcome."
Thalia snorted and replied, "I'm not thanking you." As the conversation continued, the housekeeper returned with the red wine.
Thalia poured the wine into her glass while jokingly saying, "You just took the antidote. What if the alcohol affects you?"
Nelly reassured her, "But I'm fine!"
Chuckling, Thalia remarked, "Alright, I'll stop filling my glass then." She filled her glass and sat back down, savoring the taste.
Nelly asked, "Do you want more?" lifting a bottle of wine.
Thalia replied, "In that case, you should stop. You just took the antidote."
"But I'm fine!" Nelly insisted, pushing the wine towards Thalia.
Thalia couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, I'll have some then." As she took the glass, Thalia turned to Tony and said, "By the way, when can we start planning?"
Tony stared straight at her, giving Thalia the feeling that he was the most dominant person in the room at that moment. No one at the table dared to speak up or challenge him. Thalia cleared her throat and said, "Actually, this is-"
Interrupting her, Tony whipped his head around and stared at her, his tone solemn as he said, "Aren't you aware of your own condition? I can't believe you're going along with Nelly!"
Thalia was at a loss for words. She wanted to defend herself, but she couldn't find the right words. She knew that he was only concerned about her, but being scolded by the young boy felt strange. Blinking, she looked at Nelly, then at Ben and Donna, who had expressionless faces. Finally, Thalia's gaze landed on Tony. "I-"
Tony questioned her overbearingly. "What?"
"I'm sorry, okay?" Thalia raised her voice indignantly. Tony was rendered speechless.
He had expected to scold her, but her sudden apology caught him off guard. He felt frustrated because he couldn't vent his anger. Surprisingly, Tony was speechless. Someone snorted, and laughter filled the room. Nelly, Ben, and Donna were all laughing, but Tony still wore a serious expression.
Donna grabbed her brother's arm and said, "Alright, Tony, I'm sorry for not paying enough attention, but from now on, I'll keep a close eye on Nelly and Thalia. I won't let them get a chance to do anything."
Tony remained silent with pursed lips. Thalia took a deep breath and nodded at Tony. She knew that he was finally letting go of his anger.
As the housekeeper brought breakfast, everyone's focus was still on Tony. They waited for him to speak. Finally, Tony relented and said, "Okay, let's go. Your breakfast will be decided against it."
Nelly flashed a smile at Tony. "Oh wow, thank you!"
Tony replied, "You're welcome."
Thalia turned her attention back to Tony and said, "By the way, I talked to your dad about this. He's okay with it, but he hopes that someone from DX Group will travel with you besides Thalia."
Thalia furrowed her brow and muttered, "He doesn't have faith in me?"
Nelly softly corrected her, "He's just being cautious. I'll be grateful if the other person is Miguel."
Tony inclined his head and said, "I think that's a good choice."