Chapter 22: Encounter

Katie's words were ultimately just angry words, how could she possibly not take care of Eddie for real?
After these four years, she had treated Eddie as her own flesh and blood.
Therefore, when Katie woke up the next morning and found that Elio was gone, she wasn't too surprised.
She went to call Eddie to wake up, but to her surprise, Eddie was also gone.
Feeling somewhat panicked, she checked her phone, only to find a text message from Elio, telling her that he took the child away.
Katie didn't know what Elio was planning to do, but she could guess that during this period of time, he probably accompanied Julia, and it would be nice to bring the child along to see her too.
Elio took Eddie to the cemetery, it was Eddie's first time coming here.
"Are you scared?" Elio held Eddie's hand and arrived at Julia's grave.
Eddie shook his head, "As long as Daddy is with me, Eddie is not scared."
Elio smiled and ruffled his hair.
"But why are you not happy, Daddy? Auntie said that as long as Eddie is happy every day, she will be happy too, so why are you not happy today?"
"Do you remember what Daddy told you?" Elio asked Eddie.
Eddie's gaze fell on the photo on the tombstone, he looked at it for a long time, then whispered, "Daddy had this lady's photo on his phone."
Elio was taken aback.
Eddie's face turned red, "Eddie saw it, this lady is so pretty." So, he couldn't help but look at it a few more times.
He thought Daddy would be angry, but he wasn't. Instead, Elio hugged him and said, "Eddie, this is your mom."
Eddie was stunned.
"Your mom went to a faraway place; Daddy will go find her. Mom would be very scared if she's alone on the road." Elio's voice softened, tears glistening in his eyes. "Mom loves Eddie very much."
Elio gently patted his head, "Be good, Daddy needs to spend some time with Mommy. Can you go explore around here for a bit?"
"But I want to stay with Daddy and Mommy." Although he didn't understand why Mommy wasn't there when Daddy said he wanted to be with her, Eddie could feel his father's sadness and didn't want him to be alone.
"Be good."
Eddie didn't insist on staying. Every time Elio spoke in that tone, he knew he had to obey, otherwise, Elio would truly be angry.
The villa was almost entirely surrounded by bamboo groves, planted by Elio himself because Julia loved them.
Eddie wandered for a long time, venturing deeper and deeper into the bamboo forest.
Looking at the small mushroom he had found, Eddie wanted to go back and share his joy with his father, but he realized he couldn't find his way back!
He tried retracing his steps, but it seemed like he was getting further and further away. There was no one in sight in this secluded area! Just as he was at a loss and on the verge of tears, a gentle voice suddenly echoed through the forest.
"Little one, why are you here all alone?"
The moment Eddie saw the person, the little mushroom in his hand tumbled to the ground!
He rushed towards the newcomer—
"Mommy!"