Lakeside Garden.
Zachary stood in front of Skylar’s bedroom door, his hand hovering just above the handle without touching it.
He stared at the door a little longer, his expression calm as always. Yet the faint tension in his eyes betrayed something he rarely allowed himself to show. Hesitation.
Zachary didn’t want to wake his son. But at the same time... he disliked the way things had ended earlier that evening.
A slow breath left him as he lowered his hand.
’Let him sleep... You can talk to him tomorrow.’
He turned slightly, prepared to walk away, but before he could take another step, another voice surfaced in his mind, "No, I’m not surprised...You don’t need to scold him. I was just surprised. And now I feel bad for him."
His jaw tightened.
For several seconds, he simply stood there in silence, caught between his own stubbornness and the lingering warmth of her words.
Then, finally, he exhaled quietly.
This time, he reached for the handle without hesitation.
The door opened slowly and carefully, as if the slightest sound could disturb the peace in the room.
Dim light spilled in from the hallway behind him, casting faint shadows across the walls.
"Sky," he called softly, his deep voice unusually gentle. "Are you sleeping?"
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," came the tiny reply from the bed.
Zachary’s lips twitched instantly.
In the darkness, he could clearly see the small figure lying perfectly beneath the blanket, eyes squeezed shut far too tightly, shoulders stiff with exaggerated effort.
It was the worst performance Zachary had ever witnessed in his life.
Amusement flickered briefly across his face.
He stepped inside, his footsteps quiet against the floor as he approached the bed. The closer he got, the more obvious Skylar’s act became. The boy wasn’t sleeping at all.
"D-Dad..." Skylar spoke again, his voice softer this time. Nervous.
He shifted slightly, as if debating whether to sit up or continue his terribly failed acting career.
"I’m sorry, Dad..." he blurted out quickly. "I didn’t mean to ask Aunty Sienna like that."
Before Skylar could push himself upright, Zachary placed a hand gently against his shoulder and guided him back onto the pillow.
"Stay," he said quietly.
Skylar immediately obeyed.
Zachary sat down at the edge of the bed and adjusted the blanket around him with slow, careful movements. The act itself was simple, almost routine. Yet there was an undeniable caring and tenderness in the way he tucked the blanket under Skylar’s arms, making sure his son was warm and cozy.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Then Skylar tilted his head slightly, peeking up at him with curious children’s innocent eyes.
"Dad..." he called again, quieter this time. "Is Aunty Sienna mad at me?"
The worry in his voice was impossible to miss.
Zachary looked at him for a second before sighing softly. "No," he answered calmly. "I think she adores you."
Skylar blinked, then his eyes widened suddenly, almost making Zachary laugh as he watched the amusement on his face.
"Really?" Skylar asked, his voice instantly brighter.
Zachary nodded once.
"She invited us to visit her place this weekend," Zachary added calmly. Yet the faint glimmer of happiness in his eyes betrayed him.
Skylar shot upright so fast the blanket nearly flew off the bed.
"Daddy, really?!" he whispered loudly, grabbing both of Zachary’s hands without hesitation. "Aunty Sienna invited us?"
Zachary glanced briefly at their joined hands before looking back at his son’s glowing face.
"Hm," he replied simply. "We’ll visit her this Saturday."
Skylar’s entire face lit up with pure excitement, and his earlier anxiety vanished in an instant.
"Then I’ll behave..." he declared seriously. "And study hard tomorrow. And sleep early. And maybe clean my room too."
Zachary raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe?"
Skylar grinned, "Okay, Dad... I will clean my room."
"That would be a historic event," Zachary remarked dryly.
"Dad, I already promised..."
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