Donna grabbed Coco''s wing and yanked it inside, tossing it onto the couch like it was nothing. The kids didn''t waste a second, rushing over and surrounding Coco with their excited chatter. "Whoa, it looks just like our Charlie, but bigger!" Mary said, her eyes wide with curiosity.


    "Charlie''s still a cub, duh. Of course, it''s smaller," Donna shot back, all matter-of-fact.


    Emma''s eyes lit up with a yful idea. "Maybe it''s Charlie''s dad? Or mom?"


    "No way," Mary shook her head. "Charlie''s way more handsome. This one doesn''t even have feathers on its neck."


    "What an ugly eagle!" Donna said, half-disgusted, half-amused.


    "Charlie''s still the best-looking!" Emma dered, totally sure of herself.


    Coco, hearing their brutalments, puffed up indignantly. Its face darkened, and it let out a low, menacing screech, trying to act tough.


    "What are you doing?" Mary scolded, giving Coco a light p on the head. "No being mean!"


    "Give us a smile." Emma lifted Coco''s chin with her finger andmanded, "Come on, smile!"


    "This must be a dumb eagle," Donna pouted, looking disgusted.


    Mia watched the scene in shock, her eyes wide, blinking hard like she couldn''t believe what she was seeing. She remembered how she, Noah, and Nathan were terrified the first time they saw Coco. Howe these three little ones weren''t scared at all?


    And Coco wasn''t even aggressive toward them. Even when they humiliated it, it just closed its eyes and silently felt sad, not daring to fight back.


    "Not fun!" The kids lost interest in Coco and turned back to Mia. "Mia, let''s keep ying games."


    "Uh, okay," Mia nodded. Usually delicate, Mia now yed with them like a big sister, even teaching them lessons.


    "Mary, don''t get chips on the carpet. We need to keep it clean," she chided gently. "Emma, don''t drink too much iced juice; your stomach will hurt. Donna, stop plucking Coco''s feathers!"


    "Who''s Coco?" Donna asked curiously.


    "This poor eagle," Mia replied, ncing at Coco with a hint of sympathy. It was the first time Mia used the word "poor" to describe it. Coco, who used to be so fierce and unrelenting in battle, now looked almost pitiful in front of these three little devils.


    "What an awful name!" Donna giggled, sticking a feather back into Coco''s plumage. "Alright, we''re done ying with you. Go away."


    Coco immediately pped its wings and flew to Noah''s side, pecking its feathers with its beak in grievance, making "cooing" sounds.


    "Why are you so afraid of them?" Noah looked down and asked curiously.


    "Because it recognizes them as Mr. James''s kids," Terry suddenly answered with a smile.


    "No wonder," Noah said, finally getting it. "But these three are so small, yet they''re not afraid of it at all."


    "Because their mom is..." Terry started, then stopped himself. "In short, these three little devils are fearless and have very mysterious talents. Even Mr. James can''t handle them."


    "What talents?" Sadie asked curiously.


    "You''ll find out in the future," Terry smiled mysteriously. "It''s a pity they''re all girls. If there were a boy, he could inherit Mr. James''s legacy."


    "Why do you still have such a sexist view?" Noah frowned. "Boys and girls are both Uncle Tristan''s kids."


    "It''s not about sexism," Terry sighed. "It''s just that Mr. James has a more traditional view. He believes girls should be cherished and protected, but inheriting the legacy requires bearing great responsibility, oveing obstacles, and being invincible."


    "That''s true," Noah nodded.


    "No wonder," Sadie murmured, finally understanding why there were rumors that Tristan had illegitimate children, yet he was still looking for an heir and considering Noah.