Chapter 7

As Atlas drank his water and sat beside his sister .

Adam took the empty glass from Atlas's hand and carried it back to the kitchen, quickly returning to finish his other tasks. As he moved around, their mother emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray with light snacks. "Here, everyone, have some snacks," she said warmly. "Lunch will be ready in about an hour."

They all took their share of the snacks and their mother poured the herbal tea for grandfather, while the Adam,Lilly and Atlas received a glass of fresh orange juice. the atmosphere was cozy, with the family gathered together.

As they settled in , the conversation regarding lilly's plan to work in country A.It was a topic that had been on everyone;s mind especially their father, who didn't entirely agree with this idea of letting lily work in foreign country.Concerned he had hope his father that is lilly and adam's grandfather could help him to change lilly's mind.

"So, Lilly," their grandfather began after taking a sip of his tea, "I hear you're thinking about going abroad. But have you considered staying here and helping your brother with the company instead? You've studied finance too, and you could be a great support to him. So why do you feel the need to go abroad? Tell me your reasons so we can decide what to do about it."

The conversation grew more intense as they discussed the merits and drawbacks of Lilly's departure.

Feeling the weight of the discussion, Lilly looked at her father with a mix of determination and vulnerability.

"Grandfather, I understand your concerns, but I don't feel confident enough to even pass the interview at our company right now. And even if I were to work there, no one would treat me as an equal—they would see me as someone who simply took a higher position without earning it."

I need to sort out the things and need some real experiencefirst. Please , let me go. I've already applied, and it;s one of our company listed in Country A.Grandfather , you cant dismiss me like that, I am still your favourite granddaughter.Please brother say something.

Atlas , who had been quitely from the time the conversation started finally spoke uo."Father I think we should let Lilly go .She needs to travel and gain her own experience and we shouldn't always kept her in greenhouse.She is an adult and it's important we trust her to make her own decision.We shouldn't hinder her in the name of love but instead we should be there to support her when she need any help.

Atlas paused, looking at his father to see his reaction before continuing." If you are willing to consider what I'm saying , then let her go to country A and let her fly her wings and do not cut in the name of love.As she already applied there so she can start from the lowest position, and I'll keep an eye on her.You don't have to worry."

The room grew quiet as Atlas's words hung in the air. Lilly's father looked between his daughter and son, weighing their arguments. The love he had for his daughter was clear, but so was his fear of letting her go. However, Atlas's reasoning was sound, and it was evident that Lilly's future and happiness were at the forefront of everyone's mind.

Lilly's father, after a long pause, finally spoke with a firm but gentle tone, "I'll leave Lilly in your care, Atlas. But I warn you, Lilly—don't ever forget the values and teachings we've instilled in you. I'll also be coming to visit you every two months for a couple of days. If you think you can accept these conditions, then I'll allow you to go."

Lilly nodded eagerly, relief washing over her. "Dad, I agree to your conditions. Don't worry, I'll never defy them. You can trust me."

Just then, the grandfather's phone rang, breaking the tension in the room. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was his wife calling. Excusing himself, he stepped aside to answer the call.

"Hello," he greeted her warmly.

"How is everything at home?" she asked with concern. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine," he reassured her. "We've just been discussing Lilly's plans to go abroad."

"And what about Atlas?" she continued, her tone turning playful. "Does he have a girlfriend yet? If not, should I start setting up some blind dates for him?"

The grandfather chuckled softly. "He hasn't mentioned anyone special yet. But don't worry, I'm sure he'll find the right person in his own time. Although, if you're determined to play matchmaker, I won't stop you."

His wife laughed on the other end of the line, clearly pleased with the idea.

He then ended the call, and noticing his smile, Mother turned to Grandfather and asked, "Father, what happened? Why are you smiling like that?"

"Nothing, just your mother-in-law called to arrange some blind dates for Atlas," he replied casually.

As Atlas sipped his orange juice, he was only half-listening to the conversation between his mother and grandfather. But the moment he heard his name followed by the words blind dates, his reaction was immediate and involuntary. He choked slightly on his drink, and before he could stop himself, he accidentally spit out the juice, spraying it across the table.

The unexpected moment caught everyone off guard. Lilly and Adam burst into laughter, struggling to contain their giggles, while their parents looked on with a mix of amusement and concern.

Trying to hide his embarrassment, Atlas quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe his face and hands. "Seriously? Blind dates for me?" he muttered. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "Whose idea was this? Don't tell me… it was Grandmother, wasn't it?"