Chapter 269 - Crying Together

Just like Sam Atlas, it took Charles quite a while to process all the information Hannah had given him. He opened his mouth, trying to get the words out, but no sound came out. He was in shock.

When he finally recovered from his daze, Charles could not hold back his tears flowing out. He wailed and cried despondently. He had lost his parents when he was a child, and now Friedrich was his only family left. He had absolutely no one in the world.

Charles stayed in the orphanage for several years just to wait for Friedrich to mature and take custody of him. They had only been together for two years ... and now God wanted to take away his brother too?

Why was God so bad ???

Seeing Charles howl with such great sadness, Hannah and Friedrich couldn't help but get carried away, and both of them burst into tears. In fact, they had tried to steel themselves and tried to look tough. However, today their walls collapsed.

"I don't want to lose you ... I'm not willing," said Charles many times between his sobs. Friedrich took his younger brother in his arms and cried with the teenager.

Hannah could only cry alone, watching the brothers hugged and cried. Her sobs were soft but apparently did not escape Friedrich's ears. The man lifted his face and stared at the tearful Hannah before him.

Those honey-colored eyes that were always shining brightly seemed to be filled with deep grief. Slowly, his arms opened and his eyes begged. 

Hannah rubbed her wet eyes but her tears just keep streaming down even harder.

Slowly, she walked closer. When her shoulders were within reach of Friedrich's hand, the man touched Hannah's shoulder and pulled her closer. Hannah understood that Friedrich had also offered to give her a hug.

Feeling immense sadness, Hannah buried her head in Friedrich's broad chest, together with Charles. Her heart felt so relieved and grieved at the same time. Relieved because Friedrich didn't leave her out. He accepted Hannah into his circle to share this sad news together.

Now ... Hannah felt like she was a part of them. 

Her heart grieved when she realized, among the three of them, Friedrich had taken the initiative to calm Charles and Hannah, even though he was the one who was sick.

Her heart hurt even more when she realized Friedrich's hand that was wrapped around her back was shaking because his motor function had begun to be affected.

Why didn't she ever notice this? She should have seen the signs of Friedrich's illness before dinner at that time. Why was she so inconsiderate?

They cried until they couldn't shed anymore tears, Friedrich, Charles, and Hannah packed their essential stuff to move to Sam Atlas's house.

Over the next few months, they would all focus on getting Friedrich's condition checked and finding the best treatment for him.

Friedrich accepted Hannah's presence with him and Charles. He humbly accepted the girl's offer to take care of him and his brother while they focused on treating his condition.

For Friedrich, Hannah's presence was very important to keep his younger sibling taken care of and to console Charles.

***

"You have to quit your job tomorrow," said Sam Atlas. "I will handle all your needs, together with the boys. You just focus on taking care of him."

"Yes, Sir ..." said Hannah gratefully. If only Friedrich wasn't sick, Hannah would have preferred to keep working and earn money so that she could live independently.

However, considering the doctor said that Friedrich's illness was very 

severe and that he didn't have much time to live, Hannah put her ego aside.

She would rather spend all of her remaining time with Friedrich and make his life easier ... She owed so much to this man. Now was the only chance Hannah could return his kindness.

After they moved to Sam Atlas's house, the old man immediately dispatched a team of doctors to check Friedrich's condition and ensure the best treatment for him.

However, after several weeks had passed, they actually got confirmation after confirmation from the next doctors, that Friedrich's condition could not be helped.

"I don't think I can help you anymore, Boss ..." Friedrich said quietly after the last doctor left the Atlas family home. He looked out of the large floor-to-ceiling window, which revealed a beautiful garden view with blooming summer flowers. However, from his distant gaze, it was clear that he wasn't looking at them at all.

Perhaps, Friedrich was looking at a future that he would never have seen with his own eyes.

Together with Sam Atlas, he dreamed of taking humans to explore the universe and maybe even establish colonies on other planets. But now, mankind had to go there without him. He only had two years before his time ended.

Unknowingly, tears trickled down his cheeks. He still had so many dreams and hopes to achieve. Sam Atlas also looked devastated. In not too long, he looked several years older than his actual age.

He did not know that it turned out that he really loved this young man, like his own son that he never had.

Now, imagining that this young genius who was so full of potential had to die young… he simply couldn't accept it.

His mind drifted to the events of eleven years ago when he still owned his first aviation company, Atlas Corp. His company produced a variety of small and medium-sized aircraft which were marketed to the world's elite circle.

One day, a prominent businessman asked him to sell Atlas Corp and he didn't care what the price was. Money was not a problem.

Of course, he could pay whatever price because Caspar Schneider, the name of the man, was the owner of the Schneider Group. It was one of the largest corporate groups in the world which has hundreds of companies under it that are engaged in various fields.

Caspar himself is one of the richest men in the world. Of course, money didn't matter to him. Sam was in no need of money and Atlas Corp was very profitable right then. However, Caspar didn't give up. He asked in all kinds of ways to own the airline company.

Finally ... he offered something Sam couldn't refuse.

As a man who loved science, Sam finally gave up because Caspar said he was willing to reveal a very important secret of science to him.

That's why ... Sam finally agreed.. He sold 80% of his shares to the Schneider Group and on the day that was promised, Caspar came to see him and opened the secret.