Chapter 229 - 229: Goodbye For Now Partner

When Phantom and Antoine returned to the ward, Charles was already talking with Dr. Clara. Antoine frowned the moment he saw that familiar figure before him.

"Clara?" he said as he called her.

Dr. Clara turned around to face the person who had just called her.

"Oh! Antoine, is that you?" Dr. Clara was also surprised to see him. But after she recovered from the shock, she greeted him with a smile.

He smiled back at her then he turned to face Phantom. He raised his eyebrow as he gave him a questioning look.

"I didn't know that after all these years, both of you had kept in touch with each other. I think I missed a lot of things. I started to feel jealous now. Please explain this to me." he demanded to Phantom.

Dr. Clara just giggled after hearing Antoine's remarks while Phantom just shook his head while looking helplessly at his old friend.

"You are the one who decided to avoid me and cut our connection. You have no right to question me." Phantom rebutted.

Antoine just heaved a sigh of defeat. Then they averted their gaze to Charles as they heard his chuckle.

"I think the three of you are the original version of 'The Trio!" Charles commented.

"Hmmm. Thinking about that, I would say that it's true. Hahaha. Whenever Phantom and I would get in trouble before, Clara was always to the rescue. It was so good to have a doctor friend." Antoine could not help himself but reminisced the past.

"Yeah, the two of you were the source of my headache. Tsk tsk tsk. You didn't consider my feelings every time I would see the two of you wounded and injured, bleeding in front of me. You were always making me worry." Clara lamented at them.

Phantom just chuckled as he remembered those days. She would always rant at them and scold them a lot while she was treating them.

"I was glad that Elle came. Because of her the two of you had stopped doing dangerous missions." Dr. Clara said to them.

"Yeah… Phantom's attention was diverted as he focused on taking good care and training her. Then he retired and that was the time I lost my partner and I was left alone." Antoine sounded too dramatic, trying to make Phantom feel a little bit guilty towards him.

Suddenly they heard another voice.

"Sorry about that Uncle Antoine. I didn't mean to snatch your partner at that time."

"Elle!" Charles's excited voice echoed in the room the moment he saw her.

"Oh, long time no see dear. Here comes our little devil. You've grown a lot. You are no longer that little cute kid anymore. You are now a very fine lady." Antoine approached her with open arms.

Elle felt awkward. She didn't know how to react whether she should hug him or not. She heard a lot of things about Antoine from Phantom but this was the first time she saw him. 

Maybe she already saw him when she was still a kid but since she was suffering from a trauma that time, she couldn't remember meeting him.

To save his old friend's face and Elle from that awkward situation, Phantom pulled Antoine back to his side.

"Hey, old man! I am welcoming your foster daughter and my goddaughter, why are you suddenly dragging me away from her?!" Antoine complained in annoyance.

Elle just gave him a timid smile before she walked over them. She smiled politely at Dr. Clara as she greeted her then she glanced at Charles.

"How are you?" There was a hint of concern in her voice.

"Feeling better now," Charles replied to her cheerfully.

"Good! Ready to leave here?" Elle was referring to the hospital.

"Yeah. I guess so. But I think I am not yet ready to be apart from you." Charles told her honestly. Sadness was reflected in his eyes.

"Alright, we will leave the two of you here for a while so that you can talk with each other while we process the bills before Charles can be discharged," Phantom said to them.

The two just nodded at him. After that, Phantom together with Dr. Clara and Antoine left the room. Elle and Charles were the only ones who remained in the ward.

There was a moment of silence. Elle knew that Charles refused to leave at first. She could understand how he felt as of this moment but this was for his own good.

"Can I just stay here?" Charles said in a low voice. His eyes were pleading as he stared at Elle. 

"I-I don't want to leave." he croaked as he was suppressing the urge to cry at that moment. 

Just thinking of being away from Elle, he felt an overwhelming sadness. He was used to her presence. He wanted to be with her.

Elle held his hand. "Just recover your health first then come back here."

"Am I really a burden? That's why you and Master Phantom are trying to send me away to a faraway place? I am sorry for being a weak partner." The tears he was trying to hold began to fall from the corner of his eyes.

"I promise… I will become stronger. I will train hard so that I will be able to defend and protect myself so that you don't need to worry about me anymore. So that I can stay with you as your partner."

Elle couldn't stop herself to feel sad also at this moment. Charles was being too emotional and he was affecting her right now. Tears were also starting to burn her eyes.

"I haven't told you this before but now I want to tell you that you are the best partner I ever had. You are not a burden to me. It's just that I really care about you." She smiled at him tenderly.

"Sorry if I was harsh and cold most of the time towards you but deep inside I considered you as my one and only precious friend, my brother." Elle paused for a moment as she watched Charles.

"We will still see each other. This is just temporary," she added as she gave him a reassuring smile.

Charles nodded at her as he wiped his tears using his bare hand.

"Alright. Then wait for me. I will be back and will do my best to assist you." Charles said to her with so much conviction.

"Very good. I will be expecting a much stronger Charles when you come back."

"Take care of yourself while your best partner is not around."

"Yes, I will," Elle replied with her sweet smile.

"Don't worry about me. I have Master Phantom with me as well as Erick." Elle added.

"I know."

"Erick already learned that I am Catseye," Elle told him honestly.

Charles was very shocked to hear that. 

"When and how? How did he react?" he asked her with eagerness.

"The day you went missing. He saw my necklace in Black Shadow's possession. I think he was very surprised at first and he had gone through a lot after that. But still, he chose to be with me and protect me."

Elle decided not to tell Charles about the shooting incident. She didn't want him to blame or hate Erick for that mistake and misunderstanding. 

Charles was glad to hear that. "I guess I was wrong to judge him at first. It looks like he really loves you a lot."

Elle agreed on his statement.

"Then, I will leave you to his care. I'm sure he will protect you. I can now leave you here at ease." Charles faintly smiled at her.

"Besides, Erick is your true partner forever, he is your better half."

Elle let out a soft giggle because of his remarks.

"So true."

Charles joined her as he also chuckled. Then they fell silent once again as they met each other's gaze. They knew they would miss each other.

Elle stepped closer to Charles. He was sitting on his hospital bed. Then she held his face as she wiped the tears on his cheeks.

"Partner, it's a goodbye for now. But we will see each other again. I will wait for your return." Elle softly mumbled.

"Yeah. I will. I won't fail you this time." Charles replied to her.

"I know. You never fail me."

Then Elle bent down to give him a warm hug. Charles closed his eyes as he savored this special moment with Elle.