Chapter One Hundred And Ninety Seven

Chapter One Hundred And Ninety Seven


Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Seven

“Good morning, Daddy,” Andy’s small voice rang out as he stretched his arms.

“Good morning, son,” Adam replied, smiling as he reached down to ruffle Andy’s curls.

“I want to meet Mom,” Andy said with a grin, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

Adam chuckled. “Okay, but first, let’s brush your teeth. We can’t meet Mom with sleepy breath, can we?”

Andy frowned dramatically, but he allowed Adam to lead him to the bathroom.

As they brushed their teeth together, Adam kept the conversation light, asking about Andy’s favorite cartoons, what he wanted to eat for breakfast, and whether he remembered the games they had played in Barbados.

Andy laughed at Adam’s exaggerated brushing techniques, and for a few minutes, the morning felt warm and easy.

When they stepped out of the bathroom, both in their nightwear, Adam noticed Mr. Black already walking down the hallway toward them.

“Good morning, Dad,” Adam said politely, trying to keep his tone neutral. He bent slightly so Andy could see. “Say good morning to your grandpa, Andy.”

“Good morning, Grandpa,” Andy echoed, his voice full of curiosity.

Mr. Black smiled, a proud glint in his eyes. “Good morning, Andy. You’ve grown taller since I last saw you.”mr black said jokingly

Andy giggled and reached up to tug Adam’s hand.

Mr. Black smiled proudly. “You two should come down for breakfast after. The cook prepared something special today.”

“We will,” Adam said respectfully.

The small moments, the little gestures, all reminded Adam of why this reunion was so important. He held Andy’s hand as they approached Tia’s room, his heart beating a little faster than usual.

A soft knock on the door made Tia stir. She had been half-awake, tangled in her black silk night dress, the silk soft against her skin.

Seeing the door slowly open, she realized it must be Andy. Her heart softened before she even saw who was there.

Adam stepped in carefully, his tone flat, respectful. “Good morning.”

Tia blinked at him, her hair messy from sleep, cheeks still flushed from rest. “Good morning,” she said softly.

“Good morning, Mommy!” Andy exclaimed, running into her arms.

Tia hugged him tightly, her heart warming at the familiar weight of her son in her arms. She felt his small fingers press against her, his trust and love clear in that instant.

Adam cleared his throat lightly, leaning back. “I spoke with the manager. I asked him to research good schools around the neighborhood for Andy. He’ll be starting a new school tomorrow,” Adam said, his voice calm, factual, careful not to overstep.

Tia just nodded, trying to focus on Andy rather than the lingering presence of Adam behind her. Every word from him, every glance, still stirred something she hadn’t admitted to herself.

“You can come down for breakfast,” Adam added, turning to leave.

Tia hesitated. Something in her chest made her pause. “Wait, Adam,” she called softly.

He didn’t turn back immediately.

“Can I… resume my office work?” she asked, her voice tentative.

Adam straightened. “You don’t have to worry about anything financially. I’ve got you covered,” he said, his tone steady.

She blinked, speechless, staring at the floor. He didn’t push, didn’t look at her expectantly, just walked toward the door.

“If you need anything, any amount, let me know,” he added gently. Then he gave a small nod and walked away, keeping the distance she had asked for.

Tia exhaled slowly, the tension in her chest loosening just slightly.

She wanted to be angry, to reject him, to protect herself but seeing Adam respecting her boundaries, giving her space while still caring, made it difficult to keep her feelings buried.

Andy tugged at her sleeve. “Mommy, breakfast?”

She smiled, turning to him. “Yes, let’s go. Your daddy will be downstairs.”

.

She had said she was starting over. But the way he had stepped back, the way he had offered without pressing something about that made her heart ache.

Andy chattered happily about his plans, the new school, and the games he wanted to play later, completely oblivious to the subtle currents between his parents.

Tia listened, but her mind kept drifting back to Adam, to the careful way he had left her to think, to breathe, to decide.

She realized she had missed this the steadiness he brought, the silent support, the undeniable pull that existed even when neither of them spoke it aloud.

She wondered how long she could maintain this careful balance her desire to protect her heart, her fear of being hurt again, and the unspoken feelings that had never truly left.

Adam, meanwhile, watched quietly from the staircase landing as she and Andy moved about.

He kept his distance, respecting her wishes, yet every small movement of hers, every laugh or glance, reminded him why he had never given up.

He wanted her to feel safe, to know he was different now, to see that his love hadn’t wavered.

And both of them knew, even if neither would admit it aloud, that the moment they were back in New York, the days ahead would test their boundaries, their patience, and their hearts in ways that could either bring them together or keep them painfully apart.

When Tia finally came down to the dining room, she wore a simple white dress and her hair tied loosely behind. Mr. Black was already at the table reading something on his tablet.

“Good morning, Dad,” she greeted softly.

Mr. Black looked up and smiled warmly. “Good morning, dear. You look beautiful this morning.”

“Thank you, Dad,” she said with a small smile, taking a seat.

Adam sat across from her, helping Andy cut his pancakes.

There was a quiet rhythm to the morning the sound of cutlery, Andy’s laughter, Mr. Black’s occasional comment about the news.

Mr. Black cleared his throat with a smile. “It’s been long since I had this kind of morning. Feels good to have family around again.”

Adam nodded slightly, smiling at his father’s words. Tia forced a smile too. She didn’t want to ruin the old man’s joy.

After breakfast, Andy ran off to play with one of the guards who had brought him a toy car.

Mr. Black excused himself, saying he had a short meeting call, leaving Adam and Tia alone at the table.

It was quiet. Tia tried to focus on the cup of tea before her. Adam took his phone, checking some mails but said nothing.

Finally, she said, “You didn’t have to do all this for me, Adam. I can take care of myself.”

He looked at her calmly. “I know you can, Tia. But this isn’t about you not being capable. It’s about me taking responsibility.”

She wanted to argue, but something in his tone stopped her. It wasn’t arrogance—it was sincerity.

“Still,” she said after a pause, “I don’t like feeling like I owe anyone.”

Adam looked straight at her now. “You don’t owe me anything.”

For a moment, their eyes locked. The silence hung between them . There was a hidden warmth neither wanted to admit.

Tia looked away first. “Alright,” she said softly, standing up

As she walked away, Adam’s eyes followed her unconsciously. She looked so graceful even in the simplest dress.

He shook his head slightly, forcing himself to look away. He had promised himself he’d respect her space.