Upon seeing him emerge, Thalia glanced at him and immediately turned to leave.
However, before she could take a step, Spencer reached out and grabbed her.
Thalia was slightly taken aback. She turned around and gazed at the person behind her and the hand he was holding. With a frown, she asked, “What are you doing?”
Spencer's eyes were pitch black as he said, “I have something to tell you!” Without waiting for a response, he took her hand and led her away.
Thalia really didn't expect that to happen. Spencer was pulling her toward the outside, and she was still trying to resist. “I have nothing to say to you. Let me go!”
Regardless of what she said, Spencer had no intention of letting her go.
Spencer halted in his tracks once he was outside.
“Will you let go of me now?” asked Thalia.
Spencer lowered his gaze and let go of her hand.
Thalia lifted her wrist, gently massaging the spot he had grabbed. “What do you want to say? Go ahead.”
His delicate features flickered with a hint of depth and complexity. Spencer looked at her and asked, “Why do you have to do this?”
“What are you on about?” asked Thalia.
Spencer took a deep breath and gazed into her eyes. “Thalia, I know you're angry with me, but can you please not put yourself in danger just to spite me?” Spencer asked.
Upon hearing that, Thalia instantly furrowed her brows. She squinted her eyes, seemingly puzzled. “In your view, do you think I'm doing this just to annoy you?”
“Isn't that so?” Spencer retorted.
Thalia was instantly infuriated, her chest heaving with anger. She wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat, leaving her speechless for a long time.
Spencer looked at her and then said, “Thalia, I've told you, this is what I owe Nelly . I will pay it back. I don't need your help!”
Thalia was getting anxious. She turned around and yelled at him, “Why? Why should you be the one to settle my affairs?”
“I was the one who asked her for this favor, and she agreed to do it out of respect for our relationship. So, naturally, it's up to me to repay her!” Spencer said, looking at her.
Hearing him spout the same old lines, Thalia instantly became infuriated.
“Spencer, do you really think so highly of yourself?” Thalia asked.
Spencer furrowed his brows slightly when he heard that.
“So, you think others' lives are worthless? That with a few words, with your so-called social skills, people will just agree with you? Life is precious and irreplaceable. Do you think people will just give in to you?” As Thalia spoke, a cold smirk appeared at the corner of her mouth. “And even if Nelly agrees, would Alpha Kilian ?” Thalia asked.
Spencer looked at her, suddenly at a loss for words.
“You have nothing more to say, right?” asked Thalia.
Spencer took a deep breath, then looked at her seriously. “No matter what you say, this is the truth!”
Thalia looked at him, her eyes suddenly filled with disappointment. “Spencer, do you see me as a capricious and immature person? Just because I'm a few years younger than you, does that mean I have to carry the label of immaturity for the rest of my life? Is that how it is, no matter what I do?”
Looking into her eyes, Spencer suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of helplessness that he couldn't put into words.
He had never encountered her with such a tone and expression before, which left him momentarily at a loss for words.
“Spencer, I admit that I owe you my life and you have taken care of me. You did take good care of me during those years, and for that, I am grateful.” Thalia paused, seemingly lost in some emotion. After regaining her composure, she continued, “Don't forget about something, though. In the following years, you left without a word. I lived alone, searching for you all over the world, to the point of being deceived and eventually ending up in Darknetz...”
As she spoke, she looked up at him. “Do you have any idea what I've been through these past few years? Do you know how I've painstakingly climbed my way to where I am now, achieving the fame and success I have today?”
Spencer looked at her, not uttering a word, but his pitch-black eyes were filled with heartache.
Watching him remain silent, Thalia suddenly laughed. “You don't know any of that because you simply don't care!”
“Thalia—”
“Spencer, the driving force that kept me going all these years was to find you. That's why I've been striving so hard, no matter what I've encountered, no matter how much pain I've endured, I know I can bear it all, just to be worthy of you. And now, with a single casual remark, you've dismissed all my efforts over these years. In your eyes, I'm forever just an immature child, never good enough for you!” Thalia stared at him, her eyes filled with hurt and devastation.
At that moment, it seemed she had come to terms with it, understanding that no matter how hard one tried, some outcomes simply couldn't be changed.
Lifting her gaze, Thalia wore an expression of hurt when she said, “You always stand on a pedestal of self-righteousness, claiming to know what's best for me, but you don't understand me at all.”
With that, Thalia stared fixedly at him, then turned and walked away.
At that very moment, something within Spencer was inexplicably stirred.
He knew very well that she might truly walk away from him if he didn't seize this moment to hold on to her.
So, the moment Thalia turned around, Spencer suddenly stepped forward, embracing her directly from behind.
Thalia was taken aback, her eyelashes quivering slightly.
Spencer embraced her from behind with his eyes closed and his cheek gently rubbing against her hair.
“Thalia, if I say that I understand everything, would you believe me?” Spencer asked after a long silence.
Thalia was indeed moved for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. In a low and aggrieved voice, she said, “I don't believe you...”
Spencer took a deep breath, whispering in her ear, “I know that whatever I say now won't make a difference, but Thalia, I'm just worried about you. I fear something might happen to you. To me, your well-being is more important than everything else!”
Thalia's eyes suddenly welled up with tears when she heard those words. However, she knew all too well what Spencer would say next.
Holding back her tears, she responded, “Spencer, you don't have to do this. You don't have to force yourself to do something because of that promise. I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself.”
Spencer held her tightly. “That's my promise to you. I don't feel wronged. On the contrary, I'm very happy. Making that promise to you will always be the best decision I'll ever make in my life.”
Thalia was slightly taken aback and somewhat puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”
At that moment, Spencer gradually let her go, looking at her as he turned her around. His gaze was dark and serious. “That's because with that excuse, I can pester you at any moment for the rest of my life.”
Thalia's eyebrows furrowed just as she was about to ask something. Right then, Spencer suddenly leaned over and kissed her on the lips.
Thalia was stunned.
Even though there were a hundred thousand questions in her head, the moment Spencer's lips met hers, all her questions were answered.
Nothing was more persuasive than that kiss.
After a long while, Spencer finally began to let her go gradually.
Cradling her face, his eyes were filled with love and adoration.
This scene had played out countless times in his mind. Yet, every time he wanted to kiss her, it could only be done under the influence of an extreme impulse.
The atmosphere around Spencer was tense. With his forehead pressed against hers, he uttered, “Thalia, promise me you'll take good care of yourself.”
Upon hearing that, Thalia looked at him with her sparkling eyes and asked softly, “Does this mean you agree to let me go?”
“Of course, no. I disagree.”
“In that case, why are you—”
“Does it matter if I disagree? It can't change the current situation, can it?” Spencer asked.
Hearing that, Thalia shook her head and smiled. “No. It can't.”
With a helpless sigh, Spencer said, “So, what else can I do? I can only hope that you'll doing well.”
Thalia looked at him with her sincere gaze. “Don't worry. I will definitely come back safely!”
In the next moment, Spencer pulled her into his embrace.
The tiny one in his arms stirred an endless surge of tenderness and protectiveness within him.
And there was Thalia, clutching his clothes, leaning into his embrace, listening to the powerful thumping of his chest, unable to suppress a smile that crept up to her lips.
“Hey, Spencer...” she murmured.
“Hmm?”
“Do you consider me your girlfriend now?” Thalia asked.
Spencer gently stroked her long hair, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “If not?”
“Haven't you always treated me like a child?”
“Yes. I wish you would stay by my side, forever as a child...”
Just as Thalia was about to look up, Spencer added, “From now on, always be happy like a child, without any restrictions.”
“I don't want to be a child, though. I want to be a woman who can match you!” Thalia said, looking at him.
Because of their age difference and Spencer's abrupt departure, Thalia grew extremely tired of this so- called age issue. All she wanted was to be someone who could be worthy of him.
However, Spencer kissed the strands of hair on her forehead and said, “Silly girl.”
“Why are you calling me silly?”
Spencer looked at her and answered, “Don't you know? Men generally prefer women younger than themselves!”
Thalia was slightly taken aback when she heard that.
Looking into Spencer's eyes, a glimmer of light began to emerge. She could see the ambiguity in Spencer's gaze. Seeing that, she smiled and asked, “Is that so?”
“Definitely!” Spencer nodded.
Thalia chuckled. “What age do men usually want their girlfriends to be?”
“Your age!”
Thalia seemed quite satisfied with the answer, and once again, she nestled into his arms.
Spencer held her and looked into the distance. His eyes reflected happiness and complexity at the same time.
A moment later, Thalia suddenly realized something. “Wait... I can't possibly stay this age forever... Does that mean you will want someone else in the future?”
An obscure look appeared in Spencer's eyes when he looked at her and heard her innocent questions. “You won't stay this age forever, but you will always be younger than me, so my feelings for you will never change!”
His answer managed to please Thalia.
Upon hearing that, a smile spread across her face. “Really?” she asked innocently.
Spencer nodded.
In the next moment, Thalia tiptoed and planted a sweet kiss on his lips.
“That's your reward.” After the kiss, Thalia looked at him, her eyes sparkling brightly. It was hard to believe that she, at this moment, was a top-notch assassin who ruled the underworld.
Spencer looked at her in response. Even though she was smiling sweetly before him, his eyes still carried a trace of deep worry that he couldn't shake off.
He remained silent, pulling Thalia into his arms once again.
There was nothing that could express his feelings at this moment. He could only make himself feel less anxious by holding her tightly and cherishing her presence at that very moment.
Even though Thalia didn't have much experience in love, her innate sensitivity allowed her to sense Spencer's unease.
Her smile slowly faded as she murmured while in Spencer's arms, “Don't worry. I haven't been idling these years. The puny Midnight fang pack can't get the better of me. I promise I'll return safely!”
After a long while, Spencer finally nodded and hummed in response.
The deep, muffled response echoed, stirring a bitter-sweet feeling in Thalia's heart. Are we saying goodbye to each other forever?
Just like that, the couple kept mum and held each other tightly.
At that point, they knew there was nothing they could say to each other that could truly calm their hearts. Only after the events of that night would their hearts truly find peace.
That afternoon, the castle was packed and bustling with noise.
Luke, Mike, and Alexia had all arrived.
In the living room, they were keeping mum and wearing serious expressions on their face.
When Ben stepped out of Nelly 's room, he saw them downstairs. At that moment, he knew that the operation was about to begin. I've been so busy investigating these past couple of days that I
almost forgot all about the operation.
With that thought in mind, he glanced at Tony 's room and squinted. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to head toward Tony 's room.
Standing at the door, Ben raised his hand, pausing mid-air, contemplating whether to knock. That was when Donna 's voice rang out from behind.
“Ben?”
Ben turned around and twitched his mouth slightly when he saw her.
Donna was a sharp-witted girl. When she saw Ben standing outside Tony 's room, she smiled teasingly and walked up to him. “What's the matter? Are you planning to make up with Tony?” she teased.
Ben feigned indifference. “I'm just here to ask him a few questions, that's all.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Donna asked.
“Besides, what's this about making up? I didn't even have a fight with him!” Ben said.
Upon hearing that, Donna smirked. “Well, I wonder who lost their temper that day!”
Ben furrowed his brows. “What? Do you like to watch us fight?”
“That's not it!” Donna responded. “I just wanted to tell you Tony isn't in the room!”
“He's not in the room? Where did he go?”
“I just saw him downstairs. I think he's off to find Magus!” Donna said.
“He's looking for Magus?” Ben furrowed his brows as if he was pondering something.
At that moment, Donna said, “Ben, haven't you noticed that things are a bit different today? There are so many people here, and that person called Alexia is also here!”
“Did you also feel that way?” Ben asked.
“What's there to feel? The situation is right before our eyes!” Donna pouted.
“So? What do you think is going on?” Ben asked.
Donna mulled over it and answered, “I think something is going to happen because everyone is acting strange today.”
Donna didn't say it outright, but the meaning of her words was quite clear.
Ben 's expression suddenly turned serious. If even Donna can feel it, I'm sure that's it!
With that in mind, he took off.
“Where are you going, Ben?”
“I'm going to find Tony!” Ben walked away without looking back.
Donna stood behind him and watched his retreating figure with a hint of complex emotions in her eyes.