When one enjoys their ti, they usually overlook how fast it can slip by. And Lola didn’t realize it was ti to go ho until now, when she had to send Penny, Zoren, Finn, and Nina off. Hugo, Kiara, Mint, and Ray had already left early this morning, so she didn’t have the chance to send them off.
"First Sister, you should take care of yourself, okay?" Penny held Lola’s hand, frowning as if their ti together had made her far too attached. "You’ll be staying in Novera for a while, right?"
Lola pursed her lips and nodded. "The children still have school. So your brother and I decided to wait for them to finish it. Besides, I can’t leave my company hanging for Amala to manage. If I’m leaving it, I want to make sure everything is in order."
"Let know if you need anything." Penny raised her brows. "My lines are always open."
"Sa with , First Sister," Nina chid in, approaching from the side. "If you need anything — especially if it’s about designs — you can call . My team will always be ready."
A light chuckle slipped from Lola as she pulled the ladies in and hugged them both.
"I will miss you so, so much," she humd, rubbing their backs. "If you girls need sothing — anything — you know you can call , right?"
Lola drew her head back, cupping their cheeks with a warm smile. "I’ll be there for both of you. Of course, with my husband in tow."
A wave of chuckles echoed among the ladies as they hugged each other farewell. It wasn’t as if this was the last ti they would see each other. But they all knew it would take a while. After all, Lola wouldn’t be in Anteca.
If Lola and Atlas lived there, they wouldn’t need this much ceremony.
anwhile, the n stood just outside the castle’s grand driveway. Atlas, Finn, Zoren, and Slater kept their eyes on the ladies, who were laughing, chatting, hugging, and then doing it all again.
"First Brother." After a while, Finn tore his gaze from the ladies and looked at Atlas. "I’ll visit you so other ti — not anyti soon — but I will, considering the land we’ve been eyeing in the Northeast has so problems that need fixing."
Atlas nodded mildly. "I’ve heard. Fix it."
"Haha!" Finn laughed, already expecting that answer. "I will, but it’ll take so ti."
"First Brother," Zoren spoke next, staring quietly at Atlas. "Are you and First Sister going to be fine?"
"Fine?" Atlas arched a brow, only for Slater to jump in with a scoff.
"Hah! Zoren, why are you asking First Brother that question?"
"Right." Zoren rocked his head, rembering that Atlas was capable and reliable. Asking if he would be fine was almost insulting, considering he had been part of the Secret Society for more than six years now.
But before Zoren could finish processing that thought, Slater loudly added, "First Brother has ! With around, he can sleep at night like a baby! And with around, First Sister will always be entertained. Not to ntion, I am currently the Best Uncle title holder."
Atlas, Finn, and Zoren all deadpanned, simply staring at Slater. His gloating didn’t stop there because he kept going as if he had never received validation in his entire life.
Finn shook his head, while Zoren let out a shallow breath. Neither could believe they had to consider Slater their big brother simply because their wives were younger than him. And since Finn and Zoren chose to marry into the Bennet family — with the only condition being that their children carried their family na — they had to follow tradition.
"Do not worry about ." Despite Slater’s dramatic monologue in the background, Atlas’s quiet voice still cut through. He snapped his eyes toward the two n and nodded reassuringly. "Just like Penny and Nina, Lola is soone not to be trifled with."
He paused, shifting his gaze back to the won — particularly Lola, now surrounded by the twins and the quadruplets. The corners of his mouth curved up, his eyes softening as he watched her.
"I don’t worry about her at all," he said calmly. "If anything, I worry about those waiting for us in the Order. They will not like her."
"They don’t like you either," Finn quipped, chuckling.
"I don’t need them to like ," Atlas said without missing a beat. "All I need is for them to listen because they respect ."
"Or fear you," Zoren added with a short smile. "If First Brother says so, then I know I can trust that. Even so, our lines are always open."
Atlas rocked his head lightly. "I know they are."
However, he never called them with problems. If anything, the only reason Atlas ever reached out was to check on them. Hence, Penny’s excitent when Atlas contacted her for help not long ago.
"Okay?" Slater finally turned to the n. "First Brother doesn’t need anything or anyone but ."
Again, the trio simply stared at him and chose silence.
Soon after, the ladies finally finished hugging goodbye. As they each gave Atlas a farewell hug — which he did not welco — Finn leaned close to Zoren.
"Hey," Finn whispered. "What is Slater talking about?"
"He talks about a lot of things."
"No, I an the Best Uncle title." Finn frowned. "I am the Best Uncle."
Zoren blinked. "First Brother’s kids told I am."
"They told last night."
"Sa."
Silence followed their remarks before both sighed.
"But at least..." Finn murmured, smirking. "Your kids like and call the best."
Zoren arched a brow. "And you believe them?" He chuckled quietly. "If that makes you happy, I won’t burst your bubble and tell you my children call you a pest."
With this invisible electricity buzzing between Zoren and Finn, the group eventually parted ways. After the cars left, Lola, Atlas, and the twins stood outside the castle.
"Bye bye, Uncles~ Aunties~ Babies~!" Chacha waved her little arms, her smile stretching ear to ear.
Second also waved, clutching the teddy bear gifted by his cousins. "See you~!"
Lola stood behind the twins, smiling softly as she watched the cars pass through the gates. Then she turned to Atlas.
"A day with just the four of us," she quipped, feeling his hand slip into hers.
He smiled back before they both looked toward the gates again.
"Ah! Mommy, should we play?" As soon as the cars vanished, Chacha bounced excitedly and ran toward her.
Second added, "I want to play too!"
"What should we play?" Lola bent over, hands on her knees. "Hide and seek?"
The twins bead, squealing together before running inside after shouting, "You’re it!"
Lola laughed, straightening her back as she watched them bolt into the castle. Atlas, anwhile, stared at the children before looking at Lola.
"You’re not going to find them," he said, only to see her lips curl mischievously.
Lola bit her lip, approaching him coquettishly. "I’m not the only one looking for them." She winked and tapped his shoulder. "You’re it!"
With that, Lola squealed and ran inside as fast as she could.
Atlas stood motionless for a mont, watching her go before shaking his head. A soft chuckle escaped him as he drew a deep breath.
"I’m starting to count!" he called out, dragging his feet inside to search for the three of them.
Life had not ended yet, nor was it a happily-ever-after, even as they closed a Chapter together. And no matter what lay ahead, they knew one thing for sure:
In the new Chapter they were about to open, it would start with a family of four... playing hide and seek.
— End of Volu 1 —
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