While Robbie was eagerly assembling his new invention paused in his track, Ellie who was playing dress-up with her Barbie doll froze.
The three of them looked towards Zachary.
He was staring at his watch, eyebrows knitted into one straight line.
All this while, he had always wished for time to slow down. However, the dreaded moment eventually came.
At the end of the day, they would still have to bid goodbye.
“Daddy!” Ellie embraced him grievously. “I don’t want to leave you!”
“Silly you. It’s only for two months. Daddy will meet you in Erihal later.” Zachary patted her on the back. “Be a good girl alright? Two months is a very short time!”
“No…” Ellie desisted the thought of leaving her dad. Her whimpering emanated immense sadness.
Jamie’s eyes were red as well. Tears can be seen streaming down his cheeks.
Robbie may seem tough, but he also couldn’t stop himself from tearing up.
The three of them were always together. Now, they have to be separated from one another.
A once united and blissful family was forced to be separated.
Charlotte opened the door and witnessed the sorrowful scene. Albeit reluctant, she gritted her teeth and insisted, “It’s time to leave.”
Robbie hesitantly retrieved his belongings and left the room.
Jamie stood up and headed towards her. Pulling Charlotte’s hand, he muffled, “Mommy, can I follow you to the airport?”
“Of course you can.” Charlotte patted his head gently. “Now, be a good boy and go with Robbie!”
“Okay.” Jamie obeyed her instructions.
Ellie was still crying with her arms wrapped around Zachary, refusing to let go.
“Ellie, let’s go. It’s windy outside, put on your jacket too.” Zachary helped her with the jacket and passed her hand to Charlotte. “Follow Mommy!”
Charlotte carried Ellie in her arms and stared at Zachary. “You’re not going with us to the airport?”
“I don’t think so,” Zachary replied coldly, “It will only make things worse.”
Then, he passed Ellie’s Barbie doll in a box to Lupine and rushed them, “It’s time to go!”
“No…” Ellie realized what was happening and held out her arms, her cries intensified. “Daddy, I don’t want to leave you!”
Zachary ushered the duo out with his back facing them.
When Charlotte was leaving, she turned her head and looked back…
Zachary was still facing them with his back. He kept his head low struggling to keep his calm.
Charlotte’s heart sank but she went through with it.
“Daddy, Daddy…” Ellie couldn’t stop crying.
She was staring in the direction of her home, shouting “Daddy” repeatedly.
But Zachary remained in the house.
“Bruce, follow them to the airport and bring Jamie back once they pass airport security.”
Zachary instructed with his deep voice.
“Understood.” Bruce brought Marino and the others with him.
Ben stood at the balcony and sent the convoy of the Lindberg family off. At the same time, he also saw Bruce’s car following behind.
Lupine rolled the car windows open and poked her head out.
Ben locked gaze with her, mixed feelings sparked in both their eyes.
Eventually, it was Lupine who looked away.
Ben sighed at the sight of the fleeting convoy. The atmosphere slumped into melancholy and desolate.
Following Charlotte’s departure, did it mean that his relationship with Lupine ended as well?
Ben turned his head back and looked at Zachary. He was sitting quietly on the sofa and taking a puff at the cigarette.
“You rarely smoke.” Ben passed him the ashtray.
“All of a sudden, I feel that I’m a failure…”
Zachary hopelessly gazed at the puffs of smoke that engulfed him. Although he was able to achieve anything that he wanted, he failed miserably in his relationship with his loved ones.
Ben nervously replied, “Mr. Nacht, don’t say that. In my view, you are akin to a god.”
