The emotional atmosphere was slightly distracted by the children's excitement when they received gifts from Nathan. They couldn't wait to try on the clothes and play with the toys they had received.
The room became noisy again. The children ran around, showing off their new toys and chatting happily. Meanwhile, the older children felt sad, because the gifts felt like farewell presents for them.
Lara stared at the knitted gloves in her hands, looking at Nathan in silence. She didn't expect the young man to notice her worn gloves.
"Thank you. You gave me gloves and clothes. You know you didn't have to do that," said Lara, hugging Nathan again.
"I hope you got the right size for the warm clothes. And you don't have to thank me, because it's their money," he said, glancing at his brothers who were now smiling at the children's happiness.
Lara didn't mention that Alexander had also sent a lot of money for them. She knew from the young man's expression that he still needed time to accept them.
Nathan looked at Roger and Malvin, who were easily mingling with the children. Lucas, on the other hand, made a child cry, forcing the caretaker to take him away, politely.
Nael and Leo seemed cautious. Nathan noticed Nael's gaze on him. What does that boy want? He responded with a sharp stare, making Nael look away.
Nathan watched them all. If he didn't know they were his brothers, he might have liked their visit. They seemed friendly and warm. The children liked them, and he was sure he would have liked them too.
But now he knew they were his enemies. People who had deliberately abandoned him because of the shaman's words and made him suffer.
He couldn't hide his hateful gaze.
He was surprised when a hand rested on his shoulder. He immediately turned his head, his face tightening even more when he saw Alexander beside him.
"You want to say goodbye? I've taken care of everything. You don't need to worry, I've sorted out your documents," said Alexander with a smile. But the smile looked stiff, making Nathan shudder.
Nathan pushed the man's hand away from his shoulder. "I don't need your help," he hissed softly, trying to keep his voice low so Lara wouldn't hear.
Instead of moving away, Alexander gently patted Nathan's head. "You will always need the help of your big brothers," Alexander replied.
Then he gathered the children and the orphanage staff. Instead of asking Nathan to speak, he gave the farewell speech himself.
"Thank you all for taking care of our little brother for seventeen years. To the caregivers who have poured out their hearts and affection, and to those who have been Nathan's friends, thank you," said Alexander.
Everyone except the children listened to his speech. Meanwhile, Nathan quietly rolled his eyes. What did that man care?
One of the children suddenly interrupted. "He looks like Nathan, is he Nathan's brother?" he asked, pointing to Nael on the other side of the room.
Alexander nodded. "Yes, we are all Nathan's brothers."
Nathan couldn't hold back. "No, they're nobody. Not my brothers," he said.
His words turned the calm and emotional atmosphere into an uncomfortable one. But Nathan didn't care. He didn't regret what he said at all.
"I'm leaving, and this is my last time here. I am truly grateful to the house parents, especially Miss Lara, that I am still alive after being abandoned," he said in a cold, sarcastic tone.
His brothers were silent, unable to say anything. Alexander smiled slightly, trying to understand his brother's feelings. He wondered how long it would take for Nathan to accept them.
After saying goodbye and hugging each other for the last time, Nathan reluctantly left the orphanage. He took the important things from his room, leaving his clothes behind. Surely they would be needed for the other children.
Nathan tried to smile. Even though he was usually cold and emotionless, when he saw the children at the orphanage, his heart softened.
He wanted to cry, but he held it in. Until he saw Nina crying in Lara's arms. He couldn't hold back his tears anymore, but he quickly wiped them away and waved as he walked off.
The orphanage gate felt very different now. It was so cold and felt more suffocating than usual.
But every time his brothers tried to hug him or share their feelings, Nathan immediately pushed them away.
Nathan turned his head one last time before getting into the car.
"How about you get in my car?" Roger kindly offered.
Nathan narrowed his eyes in displeasure. He didn't like Louis, but he still preferred to go with that man. Without answering, he walked straight toward the car that had brought him there.
"Hey, don't be so rude. We came to cheer you up. You know I even canceled appointments to accompany you," said Roger, walking behind Nathan and pulling his arm. He tried to force his younger brother to come with him.
Nathan pushed him away roughly. "Don't touch me! And I never asked you to cancel anything. Get lost! I don't need you to accompany me!" Nathan snapped angrily.
Roger immediately let go of his grip. He looked at his younger brother with a pleading face. "Come on, let's go out for a bit. Get in my car, I'll take you for a drive," he said softly.
Nathan turned away, ignoring him.
Alexander signaled Roger from a distance to back off. Finally, Roger clicked his tongue in disappointment and went to his car. He then grabbed Nael's hand.
"Ah! What are you doing?" Nael was startled to be pulled away suddenly.
"You're getting in the car with me," Roger insisted, making Nael sigh. But he was used to his brother's behavior, since Roger never liked being alone.
"I don't feel like talking right now," Nael grumbled, because being close to Roger meant he would have to listen to him talk nonstop for the whole trip.
"I'll buy you ice cream," said Roger, gently pushing Nael into the car.
"You know you can't lure me with ice cream anymore, right? We already have plenty of ice cream at home!"
"You don't like panda ice cream anymore?" asked Roger as he sat behind the wheel.
Nael immediately fell silent. It was his favorite ice cream since childhood, and only the vendor in the Sansu area sold it. Roger knew that, and he chuckled triumphantly.
Nael stared at Nathan's car, then turned to Alexander, who was still standing outside, watching until Nathan's car slowly drove away.
Roger noticed and followed Nael's gaze. He then drove the car slowly.
"Don't cry," Roger teased, making Nael immediately frown.
"Who's crying!"
Roger chuckled, making Nael blush even more.
After a moment of silence, Nael finally spoke. "Alex isn't quiet because he's cold. He's quiet because he hates me."
His voice was low and restrained.
"How could he hate you? Do you remember how he took you to the hospital in wet clothes because of the rain? When you had a fever in the middle of the road? We had to cancel our flight that day," Roger said gently.
Nael took a deep breath. "But have you ever seen him talk to me?"
Roger just smiled. Since Nael was a baby, Alexander had never wanted to hold him. While everyone else loved Nael, Alexander openly kept his distance.
It was very obvious. Alexander was strict and sometimes even cruel to his other brothers, but toward Nael, he acted as if he didn't exist.
Every time Nael asked a question, Alexander would just walk away. As time went on, Nael felt their relationship become completely cold and distant.
Nael thought Alexander simply didn't want to talk to him. Since childhood, he could count on one hand how many times Alexander had spoken to him, and even then, only about very important matters.
Now Nael felt a little jealous seeing Alexander show affection to Nathan. The man even tried to touch his twin brother several times, something Nael had never experienced.
"Don't be sad. He's just not in the mood. You know his mood is terrible. In a day, it only improves for about an hour," said Roger, chuckling again.
Nael was still sulking. "He hates me."
"No way. I know he loves you very much."
"I've never felt it."
"You know he's ancient! Just let it be. Let's go buy some ice cream now."
Nael sighed deeply again. "Nathan is back. Can we decorate the Christmas tree this year?" he asked hopefully.
Every year, he had wanted to experience Christmas and decorate a Christmas tree like his friends. But they never put up a tree. He always felt that their Christmas was gloomy. Just gifts and nothing else.
They had said that when he turned seventeen and his twin brother returned, they would celebrate Christmas properly.
Nael knew Nathan hated him. But deep down, he always hoped that he was the only one who had been abandoned. For seventeen years, he had always been overshadowed by Nathan's name, the twin he had never even met.