Chapter 1847: A new beginning
Chapter 1847: A new beginning
For others, the days that had passed were simply a continuation of their lives, affairs, and everything. But for some, it was a beginning.
A Chapter to start anew, a second chance for a better life, or just the beginning of something more.
“Take care, okay?” Charles remarked as he squeezed Atlas’s shoulder, nodding at his son. “Keep in touch, son.”
Atlas nodded before shifting his attention to Allison.
Allison wiped her eyes with a handkerchief before walking toward her son. Holding him tightly in her embrace, she patted his back.
“Call!” she raised her shaky voice. “Don’t forget that you have a family here!”
Atlas hugged his mother gently, brushing her back. What Allison knew was that Atlas was starting a company abroad, and his reason for that was the better opportunities there. Although that wasn’t exactly a lie.
“I’ll call and visit,” he said, giving his father a side-eye. “I promise.”
Allison whimpered quietly. It wasn’t the first time she had to send off her child, but even though Atlas was an adult, she would still miss him. But she couldn’t be selfish, retrieving her arms from Atlas to let him bid his farewell to his siblings.
But just as Allison released her firstborn, her other children quickly jumped in.
“First Brother!!!” Hugo, Slater, and even Penny jumped toward Atlas and hugged him. Slater hugged his arm, Penny the other, and Hugo his leg.
The three of them dramatically bawled their eyes out while crying, “First Brother!! Don’t go!!”
Atlas deadpanned, standing frozen in place while his little siblings were causing a scene. But then—
“Take care, First Brother,” Nina flashed him a gentle smile. “But like Mom said, don’t forget to update us or call us.”
Standing beside her were Finn and Zoren. Finn smiled.
“First Brother, let us know if you can make it to our wedding,” said Finn. “We’re reserving the best seat for you.”
“If you need anything — anything at all, reach out,” Zoren added with a nod.
Atlas scanned their faces, but his gaze was colder toward Finn and Zoren. When his eyes landed on Nina, he offered her a very rare, gentle smile.
“I’ll try to come to your wedding,” he said. “No promises, but I’ll do my best.”
Nina’s smile stretched as she nodded in understanding. Atlas would’ve ruffled her hair if not for his other siblings trapping him in place.
“Everyone already said what they wanted to say, but take care, Atlas,” Haines, standing beside Charles, offered Atlas a smile. “Don’t work your people to the bone, and also, learn how to rest as well.”
“I will… try,” Atlas quipped, but the vein in his forehead protruded when he heard his siblings sniffing loudly.
“First Brother!!!” Penny, Hugo, and Slater wept, their snot already making its exit.
When Atlas gazed down at Hugo, who was hugging his leg, and saw him reach out to his pants to blow his nose, he kicked him coldly. At the same time, he shook his arms to get rid of Slater and Penny.
“Get off me,” he muttered coldly, shooting glares at them. “Why are you crying like I’m going to heaven?”
The three whimpered, wiping their eyes.
“First Brother, what are you saying?” Penny muttered, then Slater added, “We all know heaven’s not the place you’d go.”
“It’s down below,” Hugo backed up while in tears.
Atlas’s already deadpan face died a second time while everyone else just chuckled. He shook his head, checking his wristwatch. Seeing that he needed to board soon, he turned his gaze to his siblings.
“Take care of yourselves,” he said, reaching down to hug Hugo, then ruffle Penny and Slater’s heads. “But if you need anything, I’m keeping my line open.”
For a second, Hugo, Penny, and Slater just stared at him. But in the snap of a finger, they bawled their eyes out even more and wept louder, hugging him again. This time, Atlas couldn’t shrug them off.
But somehow, Charles, Haines, Allison, Zoren, Nina, and Finn found this funny as they just chuckled. Hence, Atlas was trapped in that situation for some time. If not for missing his flight, his siblings wouldn’t have let him go.
So, when they finally released him, Atlas walked through the security scan. As he did, he slowed down and looked back at everyone. Penny was still crying in Zoren’s arms, Slater in Allison’s, and Hugo… well, Hugo was hugging Charles while the latter was shoving his face away.
A subtle smile appeared on Atlas’s face as he took a good look at their faces.
’They will be fine,’ he thought. ’And I’ll make sure of that.’
With that in mind, Atlas resumed his steps and didn’t look back again.
Once Atlas boarded a private plane, his brows arched when he caught someone seated in the other row. Turning his head, his eyes fell on an old woman reading a newspaper.
“Sybil,” he called, watching her put down the newspaper and look back at him.
Sybil smiled. “One last chance,” she said. “Are you sure about this decision? Once this plane leaves, there’s no going back.”
Unlike the first few questions she asked him back on the island, Atlas didn’t answer immediately. But when he was about to give his answer, he heard someone.
“Thank you, thank you!”
His brows rose, turning his head, and he caught Allen thanking the stewardess for helping him with his bag. Allen then straightened his back and looked around, quickly spotting Atlas.
“Sir!” Allen called and rushed to the row where Atlas was seated, grinning.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well…” Allen scratched the back of his head and then glanced at Sybil. Seeing this, Atlas frowned and shot Sybil a look. “I heard where you are going and what kind of business it was. But Madam Sybil gave me immunity and a trial period.”
Allen grinned. “So, I can stay and see if I like the work, and still have the decision to leave if I don’t like it. Also, it’s not good for me to leave my position without training the next person to take my spot, right?”
“…” Atlas studied the beaming look on Allen before he coldly gazed back at Sybil.
“Blame your siblings,” she defended herself before anything else. “Your siblings and father helped our people, and as thanks… we’re giving this one immunity. No one will ever touch him, even if he leaves the secret society.”
“Hehe!” Allen giggled, quickly jumping into a vacant seat to avoid whatever Atlas was about to say.
Atlas just quietly gazed at where Allen sat, then at Sybil. The corners of his mouth curled up a bit because now, he felt less lonely to leave.
“Yes,” he said. “I am sure.”
Sybil smiled in satisfaction, and soon, their plane took off, marking a new beginning for not just Atlas and Allen, but also for the Secret Society, the Zorken Family, and the Shadow Order.