Lucy called out to him a couple of times, but he ignored her and went straight into the elevator, leaving her rooted to the spot with a conflicted look on her face.
“Where’s Mr. Nacht?” Johann asked as he came rushing over with the men from the Commercial Crimes Investigation Bureau.
“He just left in a hurry to take care of some urgent matters at home. He’ll be in tomorrow for sure, though!” Lucy explained.
Johann froze for a moment before turning around and telling those men, “I’ll assist you with the investigation for now. Mr. Nacht will be back when he’s free.”
“Sure.”
Zachary could hear the sound of a zither coming from the Garden Villa when he arrived, and he saw Henry helping Robbie and Jamie practice calligraphy while Ellie slept on a bench nearby.
Spencer placed a blanket over her and was about to have the medical staff carry her to her room when Little Fifi shouted, “Daddy!”
Robbie raised his head when he heard that, messing up his calligraphy writing as a result.
“Oh, my god! Daddy! It really is you!” Jamie tossed the pen aside and threw himself into Zachary’s arms.
Zachary picked him up as he said, “Hey there, Jamie! How’s your writing? Let me have a look… Wow, not bad!”
“I’ve been training him for a few years now, and it would be an understatement to say that he has made tremendous improvements. Anyway, why are you home when there’s so much work to do at the office? Surely you’re not here just to have dinner?”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Zachary replied as he put Jamie down and gave him a pat on the head.
“We’ll talk in the study room.” Henry placed his pen down and wiped his hand with a handkerchief.
“Okay.” Zachary nodded and turned to his kids. “You boys carry on with your practice, okay? Daddy will check your work later.”
“Okay, Daddy!” Jamie replied obediently.
“What’s going on, Daddy?” Robbie stared at him with an uneasy look in his eyes.
“It’s nothing.” Zachary gently caressed his face before wheeling Henry into the study room.
Spencer followed them inside after having someone watch over the kids.
“What is it? Did you bring the doctor for Ellie’s treatment?” Henry asked.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You know how Dr. Felch is an old friend of Charlotte’s dad, right? Because he only treats the Windt family, he went straight to Northridge after getting off the plane.” Zachary tried to word it in a different way.
“What nonsense is this? Doctors are supposed to treat everyone equally regardless of their identity! Besides, didn’t you send Marino to pick him up? He should bring him to us even if he has to use force! How could he let him head over to Northridge like that? The Lindbergs kidnapped him, didn’t they?” Henry was outraged.
“No, Charlotte doesn’t know about this at all. It’s true that their men have picked Dr. Felch up at the airport, but he went with them willingly,” Zachary explained.
“What the hell are they playing at? I know we owe her a lot and all, but they shouldn’t be acting like this when the child’s health is at risk!” Henry grew increasingly anxious.
Zachary observed Henry’s emotions and said cautiously, “They just want to get Ellie treated in Northridge, that’s all. I came here to pick the kids up.”
Henry was furious. “You… Instead of trying to talk her out of it, you decide to just deliver them to her? Ellie has just moved all the way here today morning, and now you’re taking her to Northridge? The child is sick, for goodness’ sake! It hurts me to see her suffer like this!”
“I know, Grandpa. It hurts me too, which is why we’re trying to get her treated. I understand that you and the kids are very close, but they need their parents more than anything right now,” Zachary said softly.
“Are you sure you can get the kids back after sending them there? I feel like this is a one-way trip!” Henry was particularly sensitive about that.