Chapter 309 Return
"Shut up!"
Athena shuddered in fear.
Peter stood up, clutching the urn, his face contorted with malice, his eyes burning with a voracious intensity. "Get out!" he snarled.
Peter was a big guy, but he usually wore a gentle smile, giving off an impression of being honest and kind. However, even honest people had their limits, and when they get angry, they can be more terrifying than most people.
Clearly, Peter's patience with Athena was nearing its end.
Athena glanced at Peter's hand, which was covered in ashes and clenched into a fist, the bones creaking. She shrank back in fear. "Okay, okay, I'm leaving. I'm leaving."
With that, she ran off without looking back.
Peter's bloodshot eyes followed Athena until she disappeared from his sight. Then he lowered his head, his tightly clenched fingers slowly relaxing. He gently stroked the lid of the urn. "Vanessa, don't be afraid. I'm taking you home now. We're going home."
Two days later, at the hospital.
Maximilian and Mira were playing with the baby.
Maximilian said, "Our Abby is finally better. Yes, she's been through a lot these past few days, but she'll be fine now. Our Abby will grow up healthy and never get sick again."
"I wonder when Mr. Prescott will come to take the baby. I've been on edge these past few days. Just thinking about Abby being taken away breaks my heart." Mira's eyes welled up with tears as she spoke.
Maximilian put his arm around her shoulders, and his eyes were also a bit moist. "Don't think like that. The baby is too young to make a choice. Put yourself in their shoes; who wouldn't want to be with their biological parents? If we truly love Abby, we should let her go back and reunite with her parents."
"Yes." Mira forced a bitter smile and kissed the baby's forehead. "But I really can't bear to part with Abby." She burst into tears.
Maximilian turned to get some tissues but accidentally saw Peter standing at the door.
Maximilian froze. "Mr. Prescott?"
Mira turned around, instinctively clutching Abby tighter at the sight of Peter. Then, realizing her reaction, she loosened her grip slightly and looked at him.
"Mr. Prescott, come in and sit down." Maximilian invited Peter in, offering him water and fruit.
Mira sat on the edge of the hospital bed, holding Abby and keeping her head down, remaining silent.
Peter got straight to the point. "No need. I'm here to take the baby today."
Maximilian and Mira both stiffened.
Tears welled up in Mira's eyes.
Maximilian forced a smile and handed a teacup to Peter. "Of course, of course. I'll go handle the discharge paperwork. Once it's done, you can take the baby home."
Peter put down the teacup. "I'll do it."
He glanced at Mira and said, "Take a moment to properly say goodbye to the child."
With that, Peter took the stack of papers from Maximilian and left.
There weren't many people discharged from the hospital. Peter didn't rush to complete the paperwork; instead, he sat on a nearby bench for half an hour.
When the time was right, Peter completed the paperwork and went to the ward to get Abby.
When Peter opened the door, he found Maximilian and Mira already packed. One was holding bags, and the other was holding Abby.
Maximilian stepped forward. "Mr. Prescott, we'd like to take you and the baby home, if that's okay?"
Peter nodded. "That's fine."
Maximilian was delighted. "Good, good."
The three of them left the hospital together. When Peter took out his phone to call a cab, Maximilian said, "Take my car. I'll drive. Just tell me the address."
"Okay." Peter put away his phone.
Once in the car, Peter gave an address, and Maximilian drove in that direction.
The car was silent. At an intersection, Maximilian asked, "I remember you drove here last time, Mr. Prescott?"
"Yes," Peter replied, pausing. "I sold it."
Maximilian didn't ask further.
When they arrived, Maximilian saw it was an old, rundown neighborhood.
Peter led the way to his apartment on the fifth floor.
Peter unlocked the door with his key, revealing a small house filled with clutter and disarray, with numerous cardboard boxes piled up by the entrance.
"Did you just move here?" Maximilian asked.
Peter nodded. "Yes. I moved in yesterday, so I haven't had time to tidy up."
Maximilian and Mira exchanged a glance, unable to hold back their curiosity. "I remember you used to live in a new neighborhood?"
"I sold the house," Peter said nonchalantly, "This place is old, but it's cheap."
Maximilian quickly asked, "Are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need help?"
"No need." Peter shook his head, firmly refusing.
Maximilian didn't press further.
Abby had fallen asleep in Mira's arms. Mira asked, "Where's the baby's room?"
Peter opened the master bedroom door and tidied the bed a bit. "Put her here."
Mira reluctantly kissed Abby twice before biting her lip and leaving in tears.
Mira feared that if she stayed a second longer, she would regret it and fight Peter for Abby.
With an awkward smile, Maximilian said. "We'll be going now."
Peter said, "I'll see you out."
"No need, no need. You must be busy." Maximilian left quickly, almost tripping on his way out.
Once outside, Maximilian and Mira got into their car and cried for over half an hour.
That night, neither Maximilian nor Mira could sleep. They lay awake until dawn.
The next morning, Maximilian got up to make breakfast.
Maximilian and Mira sat at the dining table in silence, facing their breakfast, neither of them touching their forks.
After a long while, Maximilian spoke, "We should eat something. Someone's coming to see the house later."
Mira was taken aback. "We were selling the house to take Abby away. Is that still necessary?"
Mira thought to herself, 'Without Abby, what's the point of selling the house?'
After a pause, Maximilian agreed. "You're right. It's not necessary anymore."
He looked at Mira's gaunt face and dark circles, sighing. "You always wanted to go to the beach when we were young. Let's sell the house, go on a beach vacation, and decide what to do next after we've had our fill."
Mira shook her head. "I'm not leaving. Because Abby is still in Emerald Isle City. I'm staying here. When I miss her, I'll sneak a peek."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.
Maximilian didn't know how to comfort her. His heart felt heavy and pained.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
