Alpha Wade  woke up early to prepare breakfast. To his surprise, he spotted Nelly ing out of Tony ‘s room.


    Confused, he checked the time. Nelly  doesn’t usually get up so early.


    Before he could say a thing, Nelly  approached him and greeted, “Morning, Grandpa.”


    “I’m usually up at this time, but why are you already awake?” Alpha Wade  suddenly moved closer to his granddaughter and scrutinized her face. He asked, “Why are your eyes so red? You didn’t sleepst night?”


    “I didn’t,” said Nelly  with a nod. “Why not? What were you doing?” “I was chatting with Tony !”


    Alpha Wade  was incredulous. “The whole night?” “Well, somehow it turned out that way.”


    After some thought, Alpha Wade  asked, “What happened? Did Tony  do something wrong?” Nelly  smiled and rified, “No. We were just chatting about everything and nothing.”


    That earned her a displeased nce from Alpha Wade , who chided, “Staying upte may bemonce for you, but Tony ‘s still a growing boy. Staying upte can’t be good for his development.”


    “All right, I won’t do it next time,” came Nelly ‘s reply.


    “Hungry?”


    “Yeah.” Nelly  nodded.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    “I’ll whip something up for breakfast. You should catch up on your sleep after you eat.” “Okay.”


    “Just give me a couple of minutes. I’ll be quick.” As he spoke, Alpha Wade  hastily put on an apron before preparing breakfast.


    Nelly  perched on a stool near the ind and watched her grandfather working skillfully in the kitchen. As she stared at his frail figure and salt-and-pepper hair, she was suddenly struck by the realization that her grandfather had aged a great deal.


    Her eyes pricked with tears, unbidden.


    A te of simple yet nutritious breakfast suddenly appeared before her.


    Nelly  hurriedly wiped the sorrowful expression off her face as Alpha Wade  coaxed, “Food’s ready! Now hurry up and eat before you catch up on your sleep.”


    Nelly  slowly lowered her eyes to the fried eggs on her te and nibbled at her breakfast.


    Her behavior initially went unnoticed by Alpha Wade , who was busy preparing more breakfast portions. When he next turned around to look at her, his brows furrowed in concern, and he asked, “What’s wrong? Does it taste bad?”


    “No.” Nelly  shook her head firmly before meeting her grandfather’s gaze. Smiling, she exined, “I wanted tomit the taste of your cooking to memory.”


    “You don’t have to do that. I can cook for you whenever you want,” Alpha Wade  huffed. Nelly  nodded her head solemnly in response.


    Her grandfather nced at her before returning his attention to his cooking. He did not think too much of her solemn mood.


    She finished off her te just as Alpha Wade  was almost done with his cooking. “I’m heading back to my room to rest, Grandpa,” Nelly  announced. “Shoo. Get some rest.”


    Nelly  nced at her grandfather before heading to her room.


    The moment she closed her room door, Alpha Wade  stiffened and paused in the middle of cooking. He turned and stared thoughtfully at Nelly ‘s room door.


    Meanwhile, Tony  was so excited after his conversation with Nelly  that he could not fall asleep. Instead, after some thought, he switched on hisputer.


    Sam ‘s message immediately popped up once Tony  was online.


    Sam : Where the heck did you go? I didn’t think you remembered how toe online anymore.


    Tony  did not expect him to be so upset. Still, high on excitement after his conversation with Nelly , Tony  was unbothered by Sam ‘s message and replied: Polishednguage, please!


    Sam : To heck with polished! You have no idea how worried I was! I almost flew over! Tony : I would also appreciate it if you would mind yournguage.


    Sam  did not reply, prompting Tony  to type: Didn’t you ask Thalia to look for me? Didn’t she tell you about it?


    Sam : She said your mom had a heart-to-heart talk with you. Tony : Yeah, so you do know!


    Although Sam  was used to Tony ‘s incessant mention of his mother, he still could not help but cringe. Nevertheless, a thought niggled at Sam ‘s mind. Of all days, why did Tony  have to do his heart-to- heart yesterday? Doesn’t he realize how rare yesterday’spetition was?


    Sam  fired off a text: Do you understand what yesterday’spetition means?


    Tony : It showed that I’m still pretty amazing even though I’m a bit weaker than Shadow Seeker? Sam : Do you even have a shred of humility?


    Tony : Well, what do you think it means, then?


    Sam  took a deep breath before replying: Yesterday, you almost won by a hair. A HAIR. If you won, Darz’s reputation would be through the roof!


    Tony : Ah, that’s a shame then!


    Sam : I can’t sense a hint of regret in your tone.


    Tony : Patience, patience. Darz will eventually triumph. Sam : I love it when you’re bluffing.


    Tony : Hey, trust me!


    Sam : I still think yesterday was a wasted opportunity. Even though you lost, you could’ve learned a trick or two from Shadow Seeker or be her student!


    Confused, Tony  replied: Be her student? Aren’t you worried Shadow Seeker will dismantle your group?


    Sam : Our group!


    Tony  hastily corrected himself: Yes, that’s what I meant. Aren’t you worried Shadow Seeker will destroy OUR group?


    Sam ‘s faith in Shadow Seeker never wavered. He replied: She would never! Tony : How could you be so sure?