I think it’s time for me to leave. Mikhail stood and said, “I won’t force you then, Natalie.” Natalie nodded. A smile appeared on his countenance. “I really like Sophia, and I want to meet your other children. However, I don’t have enough time today. Can I… visit you like today next time? As a normal person? I want to meet them and play with them, even if it’s just for a little while.”
His request prompted her to recall the scene of Sophia playing with him earlier. Sophia seemed to enjoy her time with him, and he appeared to only have affection for her. He didn’t at all look like a king earlier.
After thinking about it for a while, she found no reason to reject him. “Sure, you can visit us as an ordinary person. Maybe my children will have bright futures ahead of them, but for now, when they’re still young, I hope they don’t get too much attention.”
Upon receiving Natalie’s permission, Mikhail relaxed. Just thinking about meeting Sophia and the other children in the future excites me! As he stepped toward the exit, he began imagining what his next visit would look like. Before he left, he said, “Natalie…”
Turning around, Natalie asked, “What’s the matter?” Mikhail hesitated for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. “It’s nothing special. I just want to bid you goodbye.”
She waved at him. “Goodbye.” Then, he left with Brody. After walking for a while, Brody heard a very long sigh, turned his head back, and saw his king looking dejected.
Mikhail didn’t just want Natalie to bid him goodbye. What he really wanted was for her to call him “Father.” However, when he recalled what she told him, he felt like he didn’t deserve to be called as such.
In the following peaceful days, Natalie was busy building a research institute in Loang. She relegated matters regarding the land and equipment to Yandel while she visited various institutes to recruit promising individuals.
Her idea was simple. She hoped that by providing a great environment, quality equipment, and at generous salary, those individuals could produce excellent research results and. medicine capable of combating rare diseases.
By the time Natalie was almost done with the research institute, she was absolutely drained. Not only did she grow thinner, but the bags under her eyes also became more prominent due to a lack of sleep.
Additionally, the time she spent with Samuel and the children was getting shorter. Eventually, she managed to set the day of the research institute’s opening.
Exhausted, she dragged herself back to her home, finished dinner, and slept on the couch. When the children saw no blanket on their mother, they carefully went upstairs to find a suitable one for her.
Just as they went upstairs, Samuel had already placed one on her. Then, he gently lifted her from the couch. That woke her up before she stared at him in a daze. “Oh… It’s you, Samuel…”
“Mhm,” he replied. “I’m so tired!” “Sleep. I’ll let you know when we arrive.” “Okay…” Knowing she was in Samuel’s arm put her at ease. Natalie grabbed onto him, pressed her face against his chest, and fell back asleep.
Instead of bringing her upstairs, he carried her outside and into the car. After fastening her seatbelt, he entered the driver’s seat, stepped on the gas pedal, and left.
