The End of the Lothario-Core Family

For a while, everything went smoothly for Dean and Emily. She had left her job temporarily to take care of her childre; he had gotten a new job in the Politics Career as a Ballot Counter. It wasn't the best of salaries, but they were getting by, Ron was a happy child...

Frank was growing without issues, he even had learned to walk.

Everything was harmony in the Lothario-Core household... Until Emily announced to Dean that she was pregnant for the third time.

And shortly after, Zach Lothario came into the world.

Dean started to worry. They had three kids already, and his salary was barely enough to support them, although, luckily, they were growin healthy and happy.

   

Oblivious to his father's worries, and in the company of his brothers, Frank enjoyed of his own birthday party.

And became a child.

Then Zack grew up as well and they had to buy bunk beds so the three kids would fit in their tiny bedroom.

Ron was glad he didn't have to sleep alone. Now Frank and Zach kept him company.

But later, Ron became a teen and moved to his own room.

Then he asked his father to teach him to drive, Dean accepted on the condition that Ron would help his mother with the grocery shopping and other house chores.

And that he would take care of his younger brothers in the afternoons, so that Emily could rest.

For a while, peace reigned at the Lotharios' home, but then Emily announced that she was pregnant for the fourth time. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Dean didn't say anything, but started to be more and more absent, partly because he had to work overtime to earn more money. But also because, for some time now, he had stopped feeling happy.

At the beginning, Dean's abscence didn't affect Emily, cause she was busy taking care of the children, but some time later, Frank and Zach became teens, began to stand on their own, and she started to have a lot of free time.

She still had to look after Kat, her youngest daughter, who, by the way, was very cheerful and independent.

She had even open her own business, a lemonade stand.

Kat was good with the numbers, just like Dean.

And she knew how to win over her customers, cause she was smart and very charismatic. It was a shame that her father wasn't there to see her.

Suddenly one night, Dean didn't return from work anymore. Emily waited for him until dawn, thinking he had had some kind of mishap at work. But Dean didn't show up, and shortly after, Emily got a letter from him, telling her that he couldn't take it anymore, so he had to leave. He didn't say where, he just asked for forgiveness and promised he'd come back as soon as he had something better to offer to her. Emily was devastated. Now, what was she going to tell her kids?