Beyond the Divorce by Third Blossom

"But before I could carry out my escape plan, they showed up and gave me a needle injection. I lost consciousness and was transported somewhere else. It seems that this is when Clark sensed something.

"The environment there was better. Judging from the cement room where they kept me, this place was closer to civilization. That gave me hope! However, the good times didn't last long. After staying there for just a few days, I was taken away again," my dad said. "That's right, Celine sensed that Clark was up to no good. She didn't even know where you were hidden, so she started looking for your whereabouts and began hunting down Clark," Atlas added.

Dad nodded. "They appeared apprehensive and did not give me a shot. I guess someone was after them. I seized the opportunity and escaped barefoot. I was eventually captured again due to my distinctive appearance.

"However, it was not just one group chasing after me."

"The Cross family and the Lively family were also searching for you!" Atlas said.

"After being captured again, Clark's son cut my Achilles tendons, leaving me unable to run anymore." Dad's face turned pale, and his hands trembled severely. "Clark told me some even more despairing news... Lucille is dead, and the children are missing." I felt heartbroken, and I was short of breath. I could manage to take deep breaths quietly. Atlas reached out and embraced me.

"Since then, the people around me have all died. I became a walking corpse, with no will to live. I resumed my hunger strike, but Clark's men forcefully fed me!

"Until one day, Clark came to me in a rage, asking why Celine wanted you and what I knew." Dad's eyes showed hope as he recounted, "I smiled and told him that I knew a lot but wouldn't tell him!

"My words enraged Clark. But it was

clear that Celine was hunting him down. Suddenly, I understood that Celine's greedy ambition was too great. She must have sensed our BZ plan with Louis and is aiming to win over the ATL Empire."

"By then, it had been two years since the plane crash, so Celine dared to act! That was when I was separated from Stella." Atlas kissed me and said, "Celine might not

vel?

necessarily know about the BZ plan, but she wanted to find you to know about the ATL Empire."

Dad replied confidently, "That plan was only known to the two of us, so Clark's actions gave me a hint. They wouldn't just let me die.

"Moreover, Clark didn't know what was going on behind it all, either. All he knew was that I was valuable because they were all searching for me. Making money was all he cared about. So, he sold me to Navi!"

QUMS

Dad continued, "I'm not sure why I got into Navi's hands. All I know is that Clark was being chased at the time and was hiding at Navi's house, so he dared not reveal his face."

Atlas and I exchanged glances, both of us understanding perfectly well that it was because of my adopted parents.