// A/N: You think that this story would end here? You're going to wait for one more chapter. :) //

When things look rough, I often find peace in taking a leisurely stroll. It provided some time to relax, yet the enticing idea didn't cease to occupy my thoughts.

I thought about accepting the offer, but Mr. Wonka needed to resolve his personal conflicts first. From the very beginning, something seemed amiss, and now I was making an effort to make a connection.

For starters, he seemed unable to utter the word "parents." Moreover, any questions about his own childhood were deflected. Lastly, he never concerned himself about the concept of  "family."

What grudge did he bear against me? Did he believe I could thrive without a family?

My thoughts were abruptly disrupted as I nearly tripped to the ground. I had been so preoccupied that I hadn't paid much attention to my surroundings.

"Oh, my apologies, sir. I wasn't watching where I was..." I began, but he promptly interjected, apologizing himself and claiming responsibility for placing his foot in my path. I insisted on sharing the blame, but he still took full responsibility.

Well, at least I was unharmed.

Appearing unruffled, I was about to walk away when he unexpectedly remarked, "Take a seat; I don't mind the company of youngsters." There was something about his voice that struck a chord, though I couldn't quite place it. So, I followed his suggestion and sat a little bit away from him.

The man was engrossed in a newspaper, his face obscured. He said,  "It's a shame about that chocolate fellow, Wendel, uh, Walter-"

I corrected him, "Willy Wonka."

"That's the one," he acknowledged. "Says here in the paper that his new candies aren't selling very well. But I suppose maybe he's just a rotten egg who deserves it."

Well, to me, he was a decent individual! However, I managed to maintain my composure and let out a sigh, "He's not that bad, just a little troubled."

"Oh, really? Have you ever met him?" he inquired.

"Yes, about a week ago. My initial impression was that he's just an eccentric guy. But when he made that offer, I declined and revealed my true desires. I still wonder if I should've never said that, but it's all in the past," I replied, gazing up at the sky.

"He's...very strange, he's got a mind that follows a straight line but with no signs to lead the way. And no offense, he is got a funny haircut," I joked.

The man quickly lowered his newspaper, revealing himself to be Willy Wonka. "I do not!" he protested.

"Huh, then seriously, why are you here?" I huffed.

"I don't feel so hot. What makes you feel better when you feel terrible?" he groaned. A simple answer to a complicated question.

"Um, let's see. I love the things I liked, especially the orphanage," I replied. "I mean, what do you have against the concept of family?"

He felt a little nervous before taking off his glasses. "It's not about the orphanage; it's the whole idea of...oh, I give up. Parents tell you what to do and what not to do, and it's not conducive to a creative atmosphere."

"From what I've observed in my neighborhood, they are more than willing to protect you because they genuinely care about you," I said with a warm smile, but Willy averted his gaze.

I delicately clasped his gloved hands and continued, "I understand you have doubts, but it's been years since you last saw your family. If you don't believe me, you should reach out to them or pay them a visit."

"Ask who? My father?" he scoffed in a somewhat arrogant tone. "No, not on my own, at least."

"So, you're determined to take the hard road, huh? Alright, do you want me to accompany you?" I reluctantly asked.

"Hey, hey, what a good idea! Yeah!" He sprang up from the bench, swiftly donning his disguise once more. I followed him as he led the way to a certain destination.

"And you know what? I've got transpor-" Willy's excitement was cut short as he accidentally bumped his head against the door of the glass elevator. Frankly, he really should have remembered where he parked it.

"...I have to be more careful where I park this thing," he ended, getting up slowly and pushing the button. With a resounding ding, we entered the elevator, and Willy pressed a button. The rocket boosters ignited, propelling us skyward. We were on our way to meet Mr. Wonka's long-lost father.

🍫🍫🍫

The glass elevator gently touched down on a snowy field, and in the distance, a lonely building stood. Smoke billowed from its chimney, and the house's color cast a somber atmosphere over the scene. Holding tightly to Willy's hand, we made our way towards the building, climbing the staircase.

"I think we might be at the wrong place," he exclaimed abruptly. Then, a grimace filled his face as he spotted his father's name etched onto a silver plaque by the entrance.

Dr. Wilbur Wonka, D.D.S.

Dental Practitioner

"Ah, so Mr. Wonka's father is a dentist in fancy terms. I'd better ask Miss Mitchell for the full acronym of D.D.S.," I thought. I pressed the doorbell, which made a buzzing sound. The door swung open, revealing a man dressed in a set of dental attire.

He looked over at us in silence, then asked, "Do you have an appointment?"

"No," I responded, then glanced at Mr. Wonka. "But he's overdue."

Then, Mr. Wonka settled into the dental chair, which reclined to almost a horizontal position.

"Open," the dentist simply instructed. Displaying a momentary hesitation, Mr. Wonka complied with the command. I stood by his side, observing as the dentist wielded a mouth mirror and a dental explorer.

"Now, let's see what the damage is, shall we?" The dentist began to carefully examine Mr. Wonka's teeth. While he worked, I took a look around the room and noticed a plethora of interesting items adorning the walls.

Not only were there newspaper clippings related to Mr. Wonka's factory, but there were also old photographs from his childhood and a scrapbook filled with even more news articles about Mr. Wonka!

It was correct that Willy started his business in a modest candy shop and gradually expanded until he established his own factory, ultimately becoming one of the country's wealthiest individuals.

That's where I realized something. Willy was worried that after all these years, his father would still resent him. In reality, as evidenced by the newspaper clippings in his office, his father had been nothing but encouraging.

"Heavens. I haven't seen bicuspids like these since..." the dentist paused, his face painting a look of shock.

"Since..." he repeated, slowly taking out the tools from Mr. Wonka's mouth.

"Willy?" he said.

Mr. Wonka uttered, "Hi, Dad."

The father placed the tools aside as Mr. Wonka sat up. "All these years...and you haven't flossed," he carefully remarked.

Shaking his head, Mr. Wonka responded, "Not once."

It felt so calming when the father smiled as he tried to open his arms for a hug. I gave them a smile of comfort as Mr. Wonka thanked me in secret.

So, Mr. Wonka and his father were reunited; gone are the days where the dark clouds separated them. I'm glad that I'm able to see this in person.

🍫🍫🍫

We departed from the building after a heartfelt 10-minute visit. We bid our farewells, and Mr. Wonka promised to make regular visits to his father.

On our way out, he extended the offer of becoming his apprentice, and this time, I accepted it with no conditions. I knew that my chance to have a family was now within reach, so I just had to wait.

As the glass elevator landed in the same location as a week ago, I couldn't help but express my confusion. "Why did we stop here? I thought you were heading back to the factory!" I exclaimed.

"Well, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" he replied with a mischievous wink. I gasped in astonishment, as no one had given me any hint about this!

We walked hand in hand to the entrance, as Willy prepared for a grand entrance. Pushing the doors open, we found both children and adults gazing in our direction.

Miss Mitchell stood at the forefront. Mr. Wonka and I exchanged glances as we made our way to see her. "Miss Mitchell, what is going on?" I inquired, puzzled by the unexpected gathering.

"I have some wonderful news for you, (Y/N). This moment will be etched in your heart forever," Miss Mitchell said with a warm smile.

I waited in anticipation, and then she made the grand announcement, "Because you are going to be adopted!" The room erupted with excitement, and I stood there, utterly astonished, my mouth hanging open.

"You really mean it?" I couldn't contain my joy as I broke into a radiant smile. She nodded, and I leaped into her arms for an emotional hug. The atmosphere in the room felt like a jubilant festival of emotions.

"But, who is adopting me?" I asked, tilting my head curiously. She gestured towards Willy, and that's when he began to explain his reason.

"I've been thinking about what you said last week on the balcony. It made me regret that I never noticed what you really wanted. I talked with my father earlier while you were waiting outside, and I'm sure that I'm ready to become a dad. You are my lucky star." Then, he also enclosed me in a hug.

Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks as I cried with happiness, realizing that my birthday wish had come true—perhaps even more so than finding a golden ticket. I finally had someone who would take care of me and love me, just like I'd received while growing up.

When it was Saturday, I said my goodbyes as my belongings were packed for the new place. The other kids were heartbroken to see me leave, but I assured them that I would visit. After all, children will come and go as they find their forever families.

I talked with Robert again, and it seemed that we were destined to become close friends. Who knows, maybe we'd even attend the same school when we were older.

Willy attempted to apologize to Miss Mitchell, but she swiftly dismissed the need for an apology. Instead, she suggested they restart their friendship, and Mr. Wonka gallantly kissed the palm of her hand.

She blushed, and they agreed to see each other regularly. They even agreed to go on a date soon!

I settled comfortably in the car as Mr. Wonka sat in the front seat with his driver. Giving a thumbs-up, I mirrored his gesture. I gave one last glance at Miss Mitchell standing at the entrance as the car pulled away from the orphanage.

They all waved goodbye as we traveled to our new house. I couldn't help but wonder what the future held in store for me. It was a journey I was excited to embark on, filled with countless possibilities.