Chapter 1219 Thanksgiving (VII)

• When he pushed himself to his feet, Chadwick Fullner swayed so hard he could barely walk straight. The tiredness and the tearing ache inside made him feel like his will was about to snap.
• He was carrying a bunch of things, all picked out for the old couple. He’d thought about leaving them at the door, but then figured they wouldn’t dare accept them—might even think someone left them there with an agenda. He considered sliding some cash through the crack, but that’d be the same. And money wasn’t what they lacked. Truth was, there was nothing he could do. Nothing to fix, nothing to make up for. In the end, he could only grab the bags and leave the way he’d come—haggard, exhausted. He passed by Samantha Wembley’s door once more and headed for the elevator. Standing there, he took one last, lingering look and murmured, “Dad, Mom, I’m going now. I won’t bother you. I hope you stay healthy. I hope you can be with Samantha again soon…”
• Maybe the best ending would be for Samantha to take her parents away too—one real reunion as a family. She could take care of them, and they wouldn’t have to live under the pressure of this so‑called familiar neighborhood. But none of that had anything to do with him anymore. Chadwick didn’t even have the strength to sigh. He stepped into the elevator and watched the doors close slow and sure, sealing him off from what used to be home.