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Chapter 34: Touching Reunion

Half an hour later, at Betty Ross's home,

Betty Ross poured two glasses of red wine from a bottle and handed one to Thor.

"Lafite 1982. Care for a drink?"

After walking for half an hour earlier, the effects of the alcohol had already faded.

Thor observed the scene with a smile. "When a girl invites a guy over and offers him a drink... Should I be imagining what comes next?"

Betty Ross blushed, then retorted, "What are you thinking? This wine was something I had saved to celebrate my graduation. You're just lucky. Enough talk—cheers!"

She abruptly changed the subject, and Thor chose not to press her. He sipped his wine and asked, "Are you the only one in your family? Where are your parents?"

A shadow of sadness crossed Betty's face as she replied softly, "My mother passed away a long time ago. My father is a soldier. Although he was very strict, I rarely saw him growing up. In a few days, I'll be joining his research project..."

It was clear that Betty and her father weren't particularly close, and she avoided delving further into the topic.

Perhaps due to the emotional release after her recent hardships, Betty drank a bit too much and fell into unconsciousness as the wine ran out.

After carefully covering her with a blanket and closing the door behind him, Thor hesitated.

Should he act on his desires, or should he remain indifferent?

Thor ultimately chose the latter, valuing his integrity. Though Betty Ross might not hold a grudge, he understood that taking advantage of her would ruin their relationship.

Thor quietly left the house and returned to his car, only to be confronted.

Seeing Natalia in the passenger seat, Thor sighed. "Uh, Natalia, long time no see..."

Natalia, dressed in a tight leather jacket, smirked at him. "It's been ten years, my dear Thor, Your Majesty Thor!"

Even Thor, with his reputedly low intelligence, could sense the bitterness in her tone.

"I'm so pleased you still remember my name after all these years. I didn't expect that when I came back, the first thing I'd be asked to do was help you pick up girls!"

Natalia, used to controlling her emotions after years as an agent, was on the brink of cursing him out—rarely had she encountered such an insufferable person.

Reflecting on it, she realized there was someone even worse in Manhattan...

Thor was sweating. He certainly wasn't foolish enough to ask Natalia for help with this. He knew she was not the contact he intended to reach; he had meant to contact the Fury... who was probably too embarrassed to handle the situation himself and had blamed Natalia instead.

Thor wondered if anything had happened between him and Natalia back then. Why was he feeling guilty about being caught by his wife?

Natalia narrowed her eyes and pressed, "How could you let such a good opportunity slip away just now?"

The question was tricky, and a poor answer might make Thor seem like a fool.

"She was drunk. I couldn't take advantage of her!" was the gentlemanly response.

"I love you. No matter how beautiful other women are, I won't look at them!" was the scoundrel's version.

"When we first met ten years ago, fate brought us together. Over the years, I've only thought of you. How could other women catch my eye?" was the soap opera answer.

However, Thor blurted out, "A duck cannot fly."

This answer that did little to redeem him.