Thalassa

Chapter 1384 

The moment Thalassa laid eyes on Richard, it was as if she had received a message from Lysander himself. Her hands trembled so much that she nearly dropped her bowl of soup. “Whoa there, careful with the soup,” Astrid exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and concern as she saw the bowl wobble dangerously in Thalassa’s grip. 

Snapping back to reality, Thalassa steadied the bowl, placing it on the nightstand before rushing towards Richard with legs that felt like jelly. 

As she moved, her knees buckled, nearly sending her tumbling to the ground, but with a forceful push, she rebounded and staggered to Richard’s side. Her clear eyes shimmered with deep anxiety as she asked, “Mr. Richard, how is Lysander?” 

Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Richard met Thalassa’s expectant gaze. He swallowed hard, searching for the right words, and finally said, “The surgery went well overall. Lysander is out of immediate danger.” 

Out of immediate danger. 

Those words allowed the tension that had gripped Thalassa for days to ebb away with a heavy sigh of relief. 

Tears streamed down her face in an instant. Lysander was alright, at last! 

The worry that had consumed her heart for three days was finally put to rest. 

“Lysander’s out of danger. Why are you crying?” Richard asked, his voice tinged with bewilderment. 

Shouldn’t she be rejoicing at the news? Yet there was Thalassa, letting tears fall. 

Hastily wiping away her tears, Thalassa explained with urgency, “It’s just… I’m so relieved, happy tears, you know? He’s going to be alright, and that’s all that matters.” 

“Don’t get too happy, though,” Richard cautioned suddenly. 

His words instantly tightened the strings of Thalassa’s calmed nerves, her voice now edged with panic, “What do you mean?” 

Richard’s eyelashes fluttered down, a sad acknowledgment of the harsh truth that he could not conceal. “Lysander is in a vegetative state. The doctors say there’s only a five percent chance he’ll wake up.” 

Boom! 

The news struck Thalassa like a thunderbolt, ravaging her newly blossomed hope and turning it into a desolate ruin. 

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“What… what did you say?” she stammered, her body going numb with shock. 

The warmth that had begun to return to her body was swiftly replaced by a chilling dread. 

Richard’s voice was heavy with sorrow, “You need to prepare yourself mentally. Lysander may remain in this state for the rest of his life.” 

The rest of his life? 

The words pierced Thalassa’s heart like a sharp knife. She staggered backward, her newfound tears of joy transforming into torrents of despair. 

“Oh dear, what are we going to do? The father of the children is in a vegetative state. How did this happen?” Astrid, lying in her hospital bed, could hardly bear the grim news, her heart aching at the thought. 

If this outsider felt such pain, how much more devastating must it be for Thalassa, the one directly affected by the cruel strike of fate? 

Biting her lip, tears cascading like pearls off a broken string, Thalassa’s breath hitched, and her heart constricted as if bound by invisible strings. 

Then, turning back to Richard, she declared with a resolute voice, “I must take care of Lysander. The doctors mentioned there’s still a five percent chance for him to wake up, right? I’ve seen it on TV. They say that with meticulous care, talking and interacting with. someone in a coma can increase their chances of waking up.” 

Lysander had been injured trying to save her, and she couldn’t just sit around and do nothing. 

Even if Zephyr objected, she must find a way to be there for Lysander. 

“Your resolve is admirable, but how do you plan to get close to Lysander?” Richard posed the critical question. 

With Zephyr in the picture, Thalassa might not even get the chance to see Lysander alone care for him. 

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Thalassa bit her lip hard, her heart torn with agony and discomfort. 

Richard had posed a question that represented her most formidable dilemma to date. She had no clue how to bridge the gap to Lysander. 

“I might have a solution, if you’re willing,” Richard suddenly offered. 

Thalassa’s gaze, which had been steeped in despair, shot up, filled with hope and earnestness as she looked at Richard. “What is it?” 

“Become Joshua’s daughter,” Richard said with a matter-of-fact tone. “Joshua and Zephyr are old college buddies, and the Whitmans and the Sinclairs go way back. If you were Joshua’s daughter, it would be perfectly natural for Joshua to introduce you to Lysander. Zephyr would have no grounds to object.” 

Thalassa’s delicate eyebrows knitted together, and she looked at Richard, her eyes brimming with tears. 

Richard’s handsome face held a steady gaze, waiting for her response. 

Thalassa’s breathing grew erratic, and through clenched teeth, she managed to say, “Mr. Richard, please contact Joshua for me. I want to take a paternity test with him.” 

Though she was utterly disillusioned with the concept of a father, and the very word cast a deep shadow over her heart, she was willing to confront these demons for a chance to care for Lysander. 

Seeing her resolve, the tension in Richard’s eyes eased. However, his voice still carried a bit of roughness from the stress earlier as he said, “Alright, I’ll make the call.” 

Thalassa had finally come around to the idea of taking the paternity test with Joshua. 

Richard’s visit wasn’t just to update her on Lysander’s situation but also to fulfill a d 

After Joshua’s incident at Richard’s family’s hotel, Richard promised Joshua that h would find the jade pearl and resolve all related issues. And, of course, that include helping Joshua reconnect with his daughter. 

After leaving the hospital the last time, Richard had met with Joshua and conveyed Thalassa’s reluctance to acknowledge her father. 

Joshua appeared ridden with guilt and despair He gave Richard a mission: to make Thalassa voluntarily want to acknowledge him as her father. 

He had missed out on twenty-eight years of fatherhood and was deeply remorseful. He didn’t want to force Thalassa; he just wanted her to come back to him willingly. 

Richard had agreed to help, and he had succeeded, finally making amends for his previous failings. 

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Richard made the call, and soon, Joshua arrived in Hollowbrook County. 

Thalassa saw the middle-aged man once again in the hospital. 

The last time she saw him, Lysander introduced him as a highly respected tycoon, someone who, like Lysander, stood at the pinnacle of society. She felt like even looking at him was an overreach. 

But now, as she saw him again, he leaned on a dark green cane, not out of necessity, but as an accessory-a symbol of status and position. 

His gaze upon her was gentle and kind, a smile playing on his lips. “Thalassa, we meet again. You seem to have lost quite a bit of weight since the last time.” 

She was naturally slender, and now she looked even more fragile. 

Hearing concern from a stranger, Thalassa’s heart clenched with a myriad of emotions. For a moment, she wanted to open up and accept his care, but the cost of vulnerability was too high, she had learned. 

Before she could even begin to accept his kindness, Thalassa swiftly shut down, her face expressionless. “Mr. Joshua Whitman, let’s get the blood test done. If it proves I’m your daughter, I only ask for one thing.” 

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Joshua peered into Thalassa’s eyes, those steely pools of determination, and saw not the excitement of discovering her father but a subdued torrent of sorrow. 

His lips curled into a wry smile, his interest piqued. “Everyone else goes to great lengths to claim me as their father, yet you seem reluctant. Are you agreeing to this paternity test just to ask a favor of me?” 

It was a rarity indeed. Someone was actually indifferent to the prospect of being the daughter of Joshua, a titan of international business? 

This was a stark contrast to Isabella, who had eagerly sought the title, even willing to slander her mother with infidelity to win his paternal recognition. 

Suppressing her inherent dread of the word ‘father’, Thalassa’s voice wavered with emotion as she addressed Joshua, “That’s right. If you don’t agree to my terms, then there’s no point in taking the test. It’s not necessary.” 

Joshua’s mouth twitched into a half-smile. “Well, let’s hear it then. What’s your demand?” 

“If the test proves I’m your daughter, I don’t expect any compensation for the years you’ve missed. I only want you to persuade Zephyr to let me take care of Lysander,” Thalassa said, her voice steady but her breathing uneven as she locked eyes with Joshua. 

In other words, aside from caring for Lysander, she wanted nothing else. 

Joshua scrutinized Thalassa, a flicker of surprise in his 

gaze. 

Thalassa was only asking for a favor, nothing more-no money, no power, no extravagant demands for property, vehicles, or unreachable connections. 

She wanted none of it, just a single favor. 

Last time, it had been Lysander who introduced Thalassa to Joshua, and he was well aware of the extraordinary bond between them. 

Now, with Lysander seriously injured and declared by doctors to be in a vegetative state-a life sentenced to a bed, awakening only a matter of luck-Joshua felt a profound sense of loss and distress. 

Lysander was such a promising young man, and their relationship had always resembled that of a mentor and protégé. Though they never formally acknowledged it, the unspoken depth of their connection was undeniable. 

And here was his estranged daughter, determined to care for his apprentice. Deep down, Joshua was willing. He couldn’t bear the thought of Lysander trapped in an endless slumber. 

Yet, Thalassa’s singular request surprised him. 

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“If you 

you don’t agree, then never mind. I’ll figure something out on my own.” Thalassa’s voice trailed off as she noticed Joshua’s silent stare, her hopes waning. She turned away, ready to leave. 

But Joshua’s voice halted her. “I agree to your request.” 

Thalassa froze, her back to Joshua, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She had resolved to confront the truth of her paternity, to face the man who might be her father, to overcome the fear associated with that word. 

But when the moment arrived, the word ‘father signified more than just a word-when it represented a living, breathing person-Thalassa felt the weight of her barriers pressing down, stifling her breath. 

She needed to constantly regulate her breathing and mentally reassure herself so as to appear effortless as she agreed to the paternity test with Joshua. 

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Thalassa and Joshua had just finished having their blood drawn at the hospital. 

“The results should be ready by tomorrow at the earliest,” the doctor informed them. 

Thalassa turned to Joshua and said, “You might as well head back now. Once the results come out, I’ll get Richard to give you a call. That way, you won’t have to come here again.” 

Richard was about to speak up when Joshua interjected, “Why bother Richard with playing messenger? I’ll give you my number, and you can call me directly.” 

With that, he extended his hand towards Thalassa. She understood that he was asking for her phone. 

Frowning delicately, Thalassa replied, “My phone was crushed under the rubble earlier, and I haven’t had the chance to get a new one yet.” 

Joshua’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Thalassa being without a phone meant he couldn’t get in touch with her. For some reason, her indifferent and nonchalant attitude towards whether he was her father unsettled Joshua. She didn’t even want his phone number, let alone keep in touch with him in the future. 

There were so many people clamoring to have his number, while she seemed to not care about it at all. 

Perhaps it was because he was so used to sycophants and gold diggers that Thalassa’s focus only on those she cared for, her disinterest in fame and fortune, sparked his 

curiosity. 

Pulling out his own phone from his pocket, without logging out any critical apps, he save his other phone’s number in it. 

Then he handed the phone to Thalassa and said, “You can use this one. It’s got my number in it, listed under my name. Of course, you can change the contact name if you want. Just call me when the results come out.” 

Joshua held the phone out, but Thalassa didn’t reach out to take it. 

Instead, she met his gaze and said, “I’ll just get a pen and paper.” 

She turned and walked to the nightstand by Astrid’s hospital bed and pulled out a medical notebook and a pen, then she approached Joshua again, saying, “Just write your number down for me. I’ll call you from a payphone once I have the results.” 

Joshua’s outstretched hand, still holding his phone, was left hanging as Thalassa made no move to take it. He wasn’t embarrassed, though. He pocketed the phone back naturally, took the notebook and pen and wrote down his name and number. 

His eyes, cool and assessing, stayed on Thalassa. “Will you really call me?” 

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Chapter 1387 

Taking back the notebook, Thalassa’s expression was composed as she answered, “As long as you don’t forget what you’ve promised me, of course I will.” 

With that, she returned to Astrid’s bedside, dismissing Joshua from her attention. 

“Joshua,” Richard intervened, seeing the exchange and feeling the need to explain on Thalassa’s behalf. “I’m sorry. Ms. Everhart is not in the best of spirits right now, so she might seem a bit brusque.” 

Thalassa’s aloof and unfriendly demeanor was even making Richard, an outsider, 

uncomfortable. 

Anyone else discovering they had a wealthy father would be overjoyed and eager to please, but Thalassa seemed utterly indifferent to her newfound paternal connection. 

Lysander she probably wouldn’t even want to see 

If it weren’t for the chance to f 

Joshua’s face. 

Before Richard could finish, Joshua raised his hand in a silencing gesture. 

“Richard, I appreciate all the effort you’ve put into finding the jade pearl for me,” Joshua said, coming back to reality. “If I come across any antique deals in the future, you’ll be the first one I call.” 

His words were a clear expression of gratitude towards Richard. 

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Joshua had always been a man of clear boundaries between his professional and personal life. 

Favors were debts to be repaid, and grudges were not to be left unattended. 

Richard had done him a solid by tracking down those elusive jade pearls and their owner. 

In gratitude, Joshua knew the best way to show his appreciation was to throw more business Richard’s way. 

Richard was touched by his gesture and replied, “Can’t thank you enough for looking out, Joshua.” 

With a final glance back at Thalassa, Joshua turned on his heel and left. 

Richard followed suit, stepping out into the crisp air. 

Outside the hospital, Joshua turned to Richard and asked, “Did you say Thalassa’s mother passed away in a car accident just a month ago?” 

“Yeah, tragic accident,” Richard confirmed. 

A car accident? 

The news made Joshua pause, a sigh escaping him. “That’s a damn shame,” he said before striding towards his car. 

Richard headed to his own ride and drove off. 

Back in the hospital room, Astrid held Thalassa’s hand, her tone earnest. “Thalassa, 

if he really is your biological dad? Why didn’t you talk to him properly?” 

Astrid had been awake during the exchange between Thalassa and Joshua, and she h overheard.every word. 

She had seen Thalassa’s reluctance, and it concerned her. 

Clutching Astrid’s hand, Thalassa could be her true self with her aunt. “Auntie, I’m scared. don’t want to have any expectations of a father anymore.” 

Expectations led to disappointment. 

Hope led to despair. 

Bruce’s appearance had sparked a hope for some semblance of warmth or kindness from a father figure, even if he turned out to be a scoundrel. But Bruce was nothing but deceit and cruelty, even threatening Thalassa’s mother’s life. 

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Chapter 1388 

He had used his claim as her father to extort and terrorize her. 

The very word “father” filled Thalassa with fear and despair. 

And Lysander, blaming her for Bruce’s sins, had taken out his wrath on her with a cold ferocity. 

She cursed the role of the father every torturous night. 

Finally free from the disaster Bruce had brought into her life, knowing he wasn’t her real dad, the sudden appearance of this stranger claiming to be her father cast a lingering 

shadow. 

With such a burden on her heart, how could she possibly hold any hope for this new 

claimant? 

So, she chose to shut the door to her heart, unwilling to let unnecessary trouble find her. 

Astrid, understanding Thalassa’s plight, nodded and pressed no further. She knew the 

bitterness her niece must have held inside. 

The next morning at ten, Thalassa went to collect the paternity test results she and Joshua had taken after helping her aunt with breakfast. 

Finding no report on the counter, she approached the doctor on duty. 

“Excuse me, have the paternity test results for Thalassa and Joshua come in yet?” 

“They’ve already been picked up,” the doctor informed her. 

“What?” Thalassa’s confusion quickly turned to anxiety. “Can you tell me who took th 

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“It was me,” a familiar voice called from behind. 

Thalassa spun around and found herself looking up at Joshua’s tall frame. He was a striking figure, ruggedly handsome with a touch of distinguished intellectuality. Silver streaked his temples, and although wrinkles creased his face, they couldn’t mar the youthful elegance that still clung to his features. 

His gaze softened as it met Thalassa’s, a hint of tenderness flickering in his eyes. 

Caught off guard by his presence, Thalassa’s eyes dropped to the document he was holding-the test report. 

She had yet to learn its contents. 

But Joshua had read it. 

So, what did it say? 

Was she really Joshua’s daughter? 

She didn’t particularly care who was her biological father, but she found herself yearning 

for a 99% match in that moment. It would mean she could care for Lysander. 

If not, looking after Lysander would be as challenging as scaling Mount Everest. 

Thalassa’s hands, clenched involuntarily, anxiety bubbling within her. 

Seeing her fixated on the report and wearing a look of concern, Joshua chuckled, “Finally, I see you care about our connection.” 

Her indifferent demeanor the day before had stung him a bit. 

Lifting her gaze, Thalassa was in no mood for banter. “What does it say?” she dem all business. 

“Join me for a trip to Starhaven tomorrow. I’ll take you to the Sinclair estate,” Joshua give a direct answer, leaving her with these words before turning to leave. 

Thalassa watched his retreating figure, her heart a whirlwind of emotions. 

Was Joshua’s invitation to visit the Sinclair estate a sign that he would fulfill her request? 

Could she truly be Joshua’s daughter? 

Though she hadn’t read the results, Joshua’s demeanor spoke volumes. 

The man was an enigma. If he had planned to fetch the results today, why hadn’t he simply told her yesterday? Why leave his phone number? It seemed redundant. 

Yet, all that mattered to Thalassa was the chance to care for Lysander at the Sinclair 

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Chapter 1389 

residence. 

The rest was secondary, and she had no interest in prying further. 

Thalassa bought a new outfit for herself. Her home had collapsed, burying all her belongings under rubble. 

She had been wearing hospital gowns for days. Now, with the impending visit to the Sinclair estate, she couldn’t afford to look casual and informal. 

She treated herself to several outfits and did the same for Astrid. 

She entrusted Astrid’s care to a kind-hearted mister who had brought her to the hospital, offering him money for his help. He refused to take her money, so Thalassa left it with Astrid, asking her to find a way to give it to him! 

Once Astrid was settled, Thalassa set off with Joshua. 

She had traveled the road from Hollowbrook to Starhaven less times, but now it felt 

endless, her nerves frayed. 

Even with Joshua by her side, she couldn’t be sure if Zephyr would grant her the favor of caring for Lysander. 

Lost in thought, the car came to a stop in the Sinclair’s driveway. 

Joshua exited first, not rushing inside but instead walking around to the passenger side like a true gentleman, opening the door for Thalassa with an inviting gesture. 

“Let’s go in together,” he said with a warm smile. 

Thalassa hesitated, unused to such warmth from him, but she stepped out of the car. H tactfully didn’t offer his hand or ask her to link arms. They walked side by side towar 

house. 

“Ah, Joshua, you’ve arrived,” Zephyr called out from the doorway. 

His face held a polite smile, but it vanished the moment his eyes landed on Thalassa, w was standing right next to Joshua. 

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Thalassa felt the unwelcoming hint in Zephyr’s gaze, as piercing as a hawk’s, and her heart sank, her eyes casting downward. 

She knew Zephyr had no affection for her, that his heart harbored a profound resentment towards her. 

Her presence now would surely have him cursing her a thousand times over in his mind. 

Yet, even at the risk of igniting Zephyr’s wrath, Thalassa had to come. She couldn’t abandon Lysander. 

“Zephyr, let me introduce you,” Joshua began, oblivious to Zephyr’s darkening 

countenance. “This is my newly acknowledged daughter, Thalassa. In time, I plan to give her my family name, make her a Whitman.” 

Joshua’s timely intervention eased Thalassa’s discomfort. She quickly glanced at him, finding a gaze filled with the warmth of old friendship towards Zephyr. 

The genial expression seemed to plead for peace, to be too kind to shatter. 

Especially by Zephyr. He had come out personally to greet Joshua. 

The Sinclair and the Whitman families had been friends for generations, and it would be a travesty to let an old friendship be spoiled over a mere woman. 

Zephyr’s hawk-like focus shifted from Thalassa, and when he looked back at Joshua, his face wore a polite smile once again. 

“Joshua,” he said in a tone that was both casual and pointed, “the world’s full of con artists these days. They don’t just steal hearts, they steal identities, too. Watch you 

Zephyr wasn’t the least bit surprised at Joshua’s introduction of Thalassa as his da Instead, he calmly warned Joshua to beware of frauds. 

He didn’t believe for a second that Thalassa was Joshua’s blood. 

This woman was cunning, a master of deception who had ensnared both Leopold and Lysander in her web. 

The Sinclair family had given her an ultimatum she was to have no contact with any of their kin anymore. 

Yet here she was worming her way to Joshua now! She truly was a menace. 

Zephyr’s sidelong glances towards Thalassa were filled with hostility and revulsion. 

Hearing Zephyr’s comments, Thalassa’s hands clenched slightly. She could tell he was insinuating she was the fraud pretending to be Joshua’s daughter. 

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Joshua chuckled lightly, addressing Zephyr, “You’re absolutely right, Zephyr. I did come across a con artist recently. A woman claiming to be my daughter showed up with jade pearls. Luckily, I’m not so easily fooled by sweet talk.” 

Thalassa looked at Joshua in surprise. 

He had met Isabella? 

The only person who would have approached him with jade pearl was Isabella, because it had been stolen by her. 

She had thought Isabella might pull something clever, but it turned out Joshua had seen right through her charade. 

“Joshua, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t implying you’re naive,” Zephyr started to explain. 

“I know you weren’t calling me foolish, Zephyr. I didn’t take it the wrong way. Let’s head inside. I’ll explain everything to you in detail,” Joshua said, stepping forward to guide Zephyr into the house. 

After a couple of steps, Joshua didn’t forget to look back and instruct Thalassa, “Hurry along, I can’t be looking out for you the whole time.” 

Joshua’s unexpected concern caught Thalassa off guard, but she only paused for a second before quickly following up. 

In that moment, she understood everything. 

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Joshua stepped out of the car first, but instead of heading straight for the Sinclair family’s front door, he stood by the car door, his intentions clear as he waited for her to join him. 

He was there to shield her from Zephyr’s potential cold shoulder, to prevent the mortifying scenario of her being left out in the cold, both literally and figuratively. 

Walking side by side with Joshua, she felt somewhat protected. Even if Zephyr had any objections or intended to make things difficult for her, Joshua’s presence and timely introductions would be her social protector. 

With Joshua by her side, she could enter the Sinclair family’s threshold with less embarrassment, smoothly and with some semblance of grace. 

Realizing Joshua’s thoughtful approach, Thalassa couldn’t help but feel grateful. 

At the very least, he was genuinely trying to help her secure the opportunity to care for Lysander. 

His attention to detail was impressive. 

Joshua led the way, supporting Zephyr with one arm while turning back to remind Thalassa not to lag behind. 

As Thalassa approached the entrance, the security didn’t stop her. Following in Joshua’s footsteps, she entered the grand hall of the Sinclair’s estate. 

Joshua helped Zephyr settle into a couch and took a seat beside him. 

Meanwhile, Thalassa stood awkwardly next to Joshua, tense and nervous as if the spacious living room had no place for her. 

She could only stand by Joshua’s side, becoming his shadow, invisible to the others. 

“Thalassa, take a seat across from us,” Joshua said with a friendly tone, noticing her attempt to shrink into the background. “Let’s have a chat with Zephyr, share some stories about the family history.” 

Hearing Joshua’s words, Thalassa suddenly uneasy. She glanced quickly at Zephyr and saw his face set in a grim displeasure, but he remained silent. 

She hesitated, unsure about sitting down. 

Joshua shot her a playful scolding glance and said, “Come on, silly girl, I’m talking to you. Take a seat.” 

Though it sounded like a teasing, Joshua was actually offering her a way to avoid embarrassment. 

He was preventing her from appearing too humble in the Sinclair family, ensuring she at 

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least had the right to sit and converse. 

Thalassa certainly understood Joshua’s intent. 

He had gone out of his way to make her feel included, and if she didn’t cooperate now, it would be a disservice to his kindness. 

No longer concerned with Zephyr’s reaction, she took her place on the couch opposite 

them. 

But as she sat down, she found herself locked in Zephyr’s stormy, angry gaze. 

His eyes were piercingly sharp, as if they were telling her to know her place and leave the Sinclair family as soon as possible. 

Her heart skipped a beat at his glare, and she quickly lowered her gaze to avoid any eye contact with him. 

— 

By not seeing his disapproval, she could somewhat ease her mind – out of sight was out of mind. 

“Zephyr, have I ever told you about my 

wild youth?” Joshua began, his voice taking on the cadence of a storyteller. “Once, I was nearly conned by some local thugs, almost got caught up with the wrong crowd when visiting a small town. But then, a drunk woman burst into the scene, pointing right at me and declaring that she had taken a fancy to me and that I was hers for the night. She whisked me away from those thugs without a second glance, and I thought she was just trying to save my hide, that her words were just for show. But no, she actually took me to a bar’s private room and, well, let’s just say we got acquainted. I woke up first, but I had to rush off for an international deal, so I left her a jade pearl, hoping she’d come to find me later. But she never did, and I’ve been looking for her ever since. I’ve found where that jade pearl ended up just recently, only to learn that the woman is no longer with us.” Joshua recounted his youthful encounter with a mix of emotions. 

Zephyr listened quietly, his expression unreadable. 

Thalassa, however, felt the weight of the story heavy on her heart. 

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Back when Evelyn was alive, Thalassa had heard bits and pieces about a chance encounter Evelyn had with a stranger at a bar. 

Evelyn had glossed over the details, as if reluctant to dwell on the memory of that man. 

It was only now that Thalassa learned the full story of how her mother met that man 

years ago. 

It turned out that it was her mother who had rescued Joshua from the clutches of a local 

tough. 

But why had her mother been so reticent about sharing the details? 

“Ah, it was a doomed affair,” Joshua suddenly sighed with a tone tinged with regret. 

Zephyr’s voice was laced with a hint of sarcasm, “How many entanglements did you have in your youth, Joshua? You probably have so many kids out there you couldn’t track them all down if you tried.” 

Thalassa felt a pang in her heart at Zephyr’s words. She had been moved by Joshua’s recollections of meeting her mother, but Zephyr’s comment soured the moment, filling her with a sense of bitterness as she looked at Joshua. 

Could it be that Joshua was a scoundrel like Bruce with a trail of women in his wake? 

She had always harbored a deep aversion to the word ‘father’, and the thought of Joshua being anything like Bruce was repulsive. 

“Zephyr, you’ve got me all wrong. In my younger days, the only women in my life were my wife and that one time at the bar with Thalassa’s mother,” Joshua clarified, ensuring 

Thalassa heard him as well. 

That night, it was Evelyn who had initiated their encounter, and Joshua had been drugged by some local thugs. Evelyn’s actions were an attempt to save him. 

“How can you be so sure she’s your daughter? Zephyr challenged, his voice sharp. 

Zephyr never had a high opinion of Thalassa. To him, she was nothing more than a scheming, manipulative woman who clawed her way up using underhanded tactics and played people against each other – the very type he despised the most. 

And now, Thalassa was about to leap to the status of Joshua’s daughter, a move that Zephyr couldn’t stomach. 

Thalassa felt a vice grip around her heart. Zephyr’s attitude was as repelling and hostile as ever. Even without directly saying it, his disdain for her was palpable. 

Zephyr didn’t believe she was Joshua’s daughter. 

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And Thalassa was uncertain herself as well, which was why she felt so anxious. 

“People can lie, but medical results don’t,” Joshua countered. He pulled out the paternity test from his pocket and showed it to Zephyr. 

Pointing at the bold letters on the document, he said, “Ninety-nine percent probability of a father-daughter relationship. It’s in black and white. You can’t fake that.” 

Zephyr’s gaze followed Joshua’s pointing finger, and the words on the paper burned into his eyes like a searing flame. 

Even if he didn’t want to believe that Thalassa was Joshua’s daughter, the stark truth in 

front of him had left him no choice. 

To Thalassa’s surprise, Joshua had been carrying the paternity test results with him all along. 

Chapter 1393 

Could it be that he went yesterday to fetch the paternity test results on his own just to show them to Zephyr today, to quash his doubts? 

Joshua had brought her to meet Zephyr, seemingly more prepared than she could have ever been. 

“Well, congratulations on finding your long-lost daughter,” Zephyr said with an icy edge, his words clipped and harsh. 

Though he was speaking of congratulations to Joshua, there wasn’t a hint of warmth or genuine goodwill in his voice. His tone suggested sarcasm more than anything else. 

So what then if Joshua had proven Thalassa was his daughter? She still had nothing to do with the Sinclair family. 

Zephyr didn’t immediately toss Thalassa out this time, and that was out of courtesy to Joshua. Had it not been for Joshua’s presence, he wouldn’t have allowed her to set foot within the Sinclair family’s threshold. 

Joshua seemed so eager to share the joy of finding his daughter after all these years, but Zephyr couldn’t share in that joy or truly wish him well. 

The love of his life, Lysander, was now lying in a hospital bed and reduced to a vegetative state. 

The pain and hurt in his heart was something no one else could possibly understand! 

And to make matters worse, it was all because of Thalassa! His disdain for her was boundless, hatred barely scratching the 

De of his emotions. 

How could the fact that she was Joshua’s daughter sway his opinion of her? 

“Zephyr, I know it’s tough with Lysander in such a state, but you’ve got to believe in miracles,” Joshua said, gently patting Zephyr’s back, his voice soothing as he shifted the conversation to Lysander. 

At the mention of Lysander’s name, Thalassa sat up straight, her nerves tensing as she watched Zephyr’s expression. 

Zephyr’s usually clouded eyes suddenly filled with sorrow at the mention, his voice becoming heavy. 

The facade he’d been maintaining crumbled, his upright posture suddenly stooped, an air of age and world-weariness enveloping him in an instant. 

“You said it yourself, him waking up would be a miracle. But how many miracles are there in the world?” Zephyr said, his voice laden with grief, a sense of helplessness creeping in. 

Sybil was his beloved, and he was always spry and radiant in her company. Since her 

Chapter 1393 

passing, Zephyr had seemed to lose his spirit and zest for life. 

Then Leopold’s passing was another blow. 

And now, Lysander’s accident added more bitterness in his heart. 

One tragedy after another had nearly broken Zephyr. 

“Zephyr, back when I was a young man, you told me to never give up, to keep fighting until the very end no matter how hard things got,” Joshua said, his voice heavy with reminiscence. “You said even if it’s an enemy, we should set aside grievances for a common goal if they can help. Once the goal is achieved, then you can settle personal scores. You told me opportunity means racing against time, to put aside all grudges and pick the right allies. The one who wins that race against time is the ultimate winner.” 

Zephyr caught the hidden meaning in Joshua’s words. His eyes, deep with sorrow, now sharpened as he asked, “What are you trying to say?” 

“You just said miracles are rare in this world. They’re hard to come by, but they do happen. Thalassa is one of those miracles,” 

a said, steering the conversation back to his 

main point. 

All his preceding words had be up to this moment. 

Hearing Joshua finally get to the purpose of their visit, Thalassa clenched her fists, her eyes locked on Zephyr, waiting for his reaction 

Without a second thought, the mere mention of Thalassa sparked rejection in Zephyr, “Don’t even mention her name! If you’ve come here just to talk about her, then you might as well leave right now!” 

Zephyr was agitated. He stood up as 

if to his guests out. 

His restraint thus far had been for the sake of maintaining the longstanding friendship between the Sinclair and Whitman families. It did not mean he could accept Thalassa, not 

even for Joshua’s sake. 

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