Louis looked through the car's rearview mirror at Nathan, who was staring blankly at the shopping list in his hand, then smiled.
"Do you still want to buy something for them?" Louis asked.
Nathan was still a little shocked. It took him a few minutes to answer Louis's question with a shake of his head. "No, it's enough."
He hoped Alexander wouldn't consider everything he used as debt. Alexander himself had said that Nathan could use the card as he pleased. Even so, Nathan had never spent that much of someone else's money before.
His salary at the café for a year was only a quarter of that amount. He swallowed hard.
He realized that only a few of the items he had bought were in the car. He knew Louis had called some men when they were shopping earlier.
"Where are the other things?" Nathan asked, looking around. There were only a few things there.
"You don't need to worry, they're in the car behind us. We couldn't fit all those things in one car," Louis explained calmly.
Nathan looked behind him and saw a black car following them. He immediately frowned. He didn't like anyone from the Salazar family coming to the orphanage. But he realized he couldn't possibly carry all those things by himself.
Nathan looked outside the car, not expecting it to take so long to buy everything. He felt a little dizzy and nauseous, and he remained silent throughout the trip.
Louis drove slowly and carefully. The road was slippery because of the snow, and he was extra cautious, especially in the area around the orphanage, which was far from the highway.
When they arrived at the orphanage gate, Nathan felt a strange feeling. The gate and the building were so ingrained in his life, and now he was coming to say goodbye. Even though he had prepared himself to leave, he never thought he would leave this way.
He was lost in thought when Louis opened the car door for him. Without realizing it, he bowed his head and quickly got out.
The nice shoes he was wearing stepped on a pile of snow, and the cold air immediately hit his face. He stared at the gate with a heavy heart.
He frowned when he saw several black cars parked there.
Were there any donaters coming today?
It didn't seem like the right time for him to come. But he didn't want to return with those items. He decided he would just hand over the things and leave right away.
Louis carried the items from the baggage in both hands. Nathan noticed and quickly helped by pulling some paper bags out of the car.
Behind them, the black car that had been following stopped, and two men got out. They were the bodyguards Nathan had seen with Alexander that morning. One of them had pointed a gun at him before, which made Nathan uncomfortable.
But they ignored him and efficiently took the items from the car. The car had a closed box in the back.
Louis waited for Nathan at the closed gate. Nathan quickly opened it and let the men in.
Nathan smiled, imagining the faces of the children at the orphanage. He was sure they were home from school by now. He walked fast to the door and opened it. He rushed into the living room.
When he stepped inside, he saw the children shouting happily and playing. He immediately stopped, frozen.
His smile disappeared.
There, the children were playing with six men who claimed to be their brothers — the Salazar family's sons.
Nathan dropped the items in his hands onto the floor. His face immediately tightened. He didn't know why he was so upset, especially when he saw Nael, his twin, carrying Nina.
His heart was beating fast. His breath was short.
Alexander turned his head. He had been talking to some of the orphanage house parents, and now his gaze fixed on Nathan, who stood there with an annoyed look on his face.
Nael, who was holding Nina, immediately felt his hair stand on end when he looked at Nathan. His twin brother looked like he was ready to kill him right then and there.
The atmosphere, which had been so lively a minute ago, turned tense. Only Louis and Alexander's two bodyguards moved to put things in the living room before going outside again to bring in the rest.
"Nathan! Finally, you're here!" Roger exclaimed, his smile as bright as a sunflower.
Nathan pushed away Roger's hand that was around his shoulder. "Don't touch me!" he hissed.
Roger immediately raised his hands. "Okay! I'll just look, not touch."
Nathan glared at him, while Roger seemed unfazed and smiled sweetly.
"Nathan, you're here," said Lara, greeting him with a friendly smile.
Nathan's face immediately softened, and he smiled slightly at the woman. He melted even more when Lara hugged him tightly.
Lara didn't say anything, but her hand gently rubbed Nathan's back. Everyone was silent, even the children, except for a few who were still busy with their toys and chatting.
Lara wiped away the tears that had fallen on her cheeks.
She pulled away slightly, still wiping her tears, and looked at Nathan. "I didn't realize you'd grow up this fast. I always hope you find happiness wherever you are. You're a strong child, and we all love you, Nathan."
Nathan felt the anger in his chest slowly turn into something that shook his heart. Lara's words were so warm and full of love. He knew this woman well, her every word was always kind.
The children, who had been silent, now rushed toward Nathan and Lara. They seemed to realize that Nathan was leaving.
"Nathan is leaving?" asked one of them. The seven-year-old put down his toy and hugged Nathan, looking at him with teary eyes.
The child's words made all the others start to whimper.
"Are you leaving like Anton?"
"Why do you have to leave?"
They surrounded Nathan, hugging him tightly.
Lara smiled, trying to hide her tears. "Nathan has to go. He's grown up like Anton. It's time for them to leave."
The children already knew that their time together wouldn't last forever. They would eventually be separated, either through adoption or when it was time to leave the orphanage.
But none of them were ready for someone to go, and the drama of parting always followed.
"Kids, remember that every meeting must come to an end. Nathan will visit often," Lara said softly.
But they knew Lara's words weren't true. No people who left ever came back.
Nathan crouched down, hugging as many of the children as he could. "I brought you lots of things, so in return, don't be sad today, okay?" said Nathan, smiling.
The children looked at him with tear-stained faces.
Meanwhile, Alexander and his brothers were surprised by Nathan's smile and the gentleness in his voice, which were very different from the attitude he had shown them before. Their encounters had always been filled with Nathan's shouting and stubbornness, so they didn't expect him to be so warm.
Nathan tried not to pay attention to his brothers and focused on making the last moment with the children meaningful to him.