Beyond the Divorce

At the dining table, Atlas briefed my adoptive dad too, saying, "I'll discuss the lab with you when I return. But I've already arranged for people to start building the lab, so there's no need to worry."

"I'll wait for you to return. There's no rush." He seemed a bit emotional.

I noticed my mom's expression freeze for a moment. My adoptive dad might not have told her about that yet. But since Atlas was here, my mom didn't ask about it.

My adoptive dad probably hadn't expected Atlas to start building the lab for him.

After breakfast, we still had time to spare before our flight. Atlas told me he wanted to visit my father in the annex and discuss something with him.

I nodded. "I'll go with you. I'll check on Loak and Anya too, and let them know where we're going."

Atlas nodded, and we headed to the annex together. He went to visit my father while I went to see Loak and Anya.

I knew Atlas must have had something important to discuss with my father, since my father would have some thoughts about our trip back to Nocturnia.

building on a table. When she saw me enter, she greeted me in surprise. "Why are you here so early, Mrs.

to ours, I asked Anya, "Are you still

than it was at home." Her face lit up with joy and her voice filled with

at my brother,

the breakfast and pointed at Loak. It had been a week since I last saw him, and I could see that he looked better than when I saw him

and said with

healing well, and it doesn't hurt anymore." Loak spoke a little stiffly. "I'm

got off the bed and took

know how he had managed to carry my seriously injured father out

don't force yourself to walk too much. Let's

walked to the dining table himself. "Are you eating with

trip. I'll come see you when I

they had

my father would be anxious when I wasn't at home.