Chapter 200: Chapter One Hundred And Ninety Eight

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety Eight

The room decorators had arrived early that morning, moving in and out of the Black mansion with boxes of paints, rolls of wallpaper, toys, and little furniture.

Adam stood by the door, watching them work. He had given them a clear description of how he wanted Andy’s room to look bright, cheerful, full of life.

“Make sure the color is a soft sky blue,” Adam said, walking around while the men painted the walls. “And the car posters should be right above the study desk.”

“Yes, sir,” one of the decorators said.

By afternoon, the work was done. The room looked exactly how he wanted it. The walls were painted a soft blue with pictures of cars and cartoon heroes across them.

The bed was shaped like a race car, bright red, with matching pillows.

There was a small reading table by the window, and a shelf filled with children’s books and little toy cars. The curtains had tiny stars and moons on them. Everything looked like a dream room for a five-year-old boy.

Adam smiled as he looked around. “He’ll love it,” he said quietly.

He asked the butler to call Andy but told him not to say what was going on. “Just tell him I need him upstairs. It’s a surprise.”

“Yes, sir,” the middle-aged butler said and left quickly.

A few minutes later, Andy’s small footsteps echoed down the hallway. “Daddy?” he called out.

“Come here, son,” Adam said, smiling. “But close your eyes. No peeking.”

Andy laughed. “Okay, Daddy!” He covered his eyes with both hands.

The butler took his hand gently. “Don’t open yet, young master. We’re almost there,” he said as they walked slowly toward the door.

Andy giggled. “How much longer?”

“Just two more steps,” the butler replied.

“Alright,” Adam said finally. “Now open your eyes, boyyo!”

Andy opened his eyes and froze. His mouth dropped open, eyes wide. “Wow…”

Adam watched as his son walked into the room slowly, turning around in awe. “Daddy! It’s so beautiful!”

He jumped onto the bed, laughing loudly. “It’s a car bed! Daddy, look!”

“I told you he’d love it,” the butler said with a grin.

Andy ran to the wall, touching the cartoon paintings, pointing at every toy and book he saw. “I love everything!” he shouted. “Even the stars on the curtain!”

Adam laughed softly. “And that’s not all.”

He brought out a boxed tablet and handed it to the butler to unbox. “Here,” he said, handing it to Andy. “You can play games with this.”

Andy screamed in excitement. “Thank you, Daddy!” He threw his arms around Adam’s leg.

Adam bent down and lifted him up, spinning him once. “Anything for you, champ.”

For a moment, he just looked at his son’s smiling face and thought, I’ll give you the best life I can.

Tia came in quietly, hearing the laughter from the hallway. When she saw the room, her eyes softened. Andy ran to her immediately.

“Mommy! Daddy made me a new room! And look he got me a tablet!”

Tia smiled, trying to hide her emotion. “It’s beautiful, baby. You’re so lucky.”

“Daddy said I can play games on it,” Andy said proudly.

Tia looked at Adam briefly. “You did all this?”

Adam nodded. “He deserves it.”

For a second, she couldn’t speak. Watching Andy’s happiness, the room’s beauty, and the small smile on Adam’s face all of it hit her heart at once. She blinked fast, but one tear slipped down her cheek.

Adam noticed but said nothing. He only smiled faintly and looked away.

\---

Later that night, the house was quiet. Andy had refused to sleep without both of them around. He was on his new bed, lying between them, still wide awake.

“Daddy, read me a poem,” he said suddenly. “And Mommy will read me a story.”

Tia looked at him. “Andy, it’s already late. You’re starting a new school tomorrow. You need to sleep.”

“Please, Mommy,” Andy said, holding her hand. “Just one story.”

Adam chuckled softly. “He won’t rest till we do.”

“Alright,” she said finally, giving in.

Adam opened a small book from Andy’s shelf and read in a calm voice. It was a short poem about stars and dreams.

Andy listened carefully, eyes wide but heavy. Tia followed with a short story about a little boy who found courage to try new things.

When she closed the book, she kissed Andy’s forehead. “Good night, baby.”

“Good night, Mommy,” Andy murmured, turning to Adam. “Good night, Daddy.”

“Good night, son,” Adam said, gently brushing his curls.

Tia stood up to leave, but Andy suddenly sat up. “Mommy, Daddy don’t go yet.”

They both turned to him.

“I want you both to sleep close to me. Please. For the first time.”

His little voice was soft but serious, and it caught them both off guard.

“Andy…” Tia started, but he cut her off.

“I won’t sleep if you both go,” he said firmly.

Adam sighed, looking at Tia. “Looks like we don’t have a choice.”

Tia hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Alright, fine.”

Andy smiled and lay back down, pulling their hands. “Daddy, you stay here,” he said, patting the right side. “And Mommy, here.”

They both sat where he pointed, trying to act normal.

Then Andy did something that made them freeze he took both their hands and placed them together on his stomach. “Now I’ll sleep peacefully,” he said, eyes closing.

Tia’s heart raced. Adam didn’t move. Their hands rested together, warm against Andy’s tiny body.

For a long time, neither spoke. The only sound was Andy’s soft breathing as he drifted off.

Tia tried to pull her hand away slowly, but Adam’s fingers brushed hers by mistake. She froze.

Their eyes met briefly in the dim light of the night lamp. No words, no movement just quiet understanding and memories between them.

A few minutes later, Andy was fast asleep. Adam leaned back slightly on the bedpost, looking at his son.

Then, almost unknowingly, his eyes went back to Tia. Her head rested lightly on the pillow, her hair spread softly across the sheets.

She looked peaceful.

He wanted to say something, maybe “thank you” or “good night,” but he stopped himself. Instead, he closed his eyes, deciding silence was safer.

Slowly, sleep found them both.

\---

The next morning, the first light of dawn slipped through the curtain. Andy was still curled up in the middle, his small hand resting on Adam’s chest.

Tia woke first. For a moment, she just looked at the t

wo of them. Father and son, sleeping so close it felt complete, like a picture she had always wished for.

She quietly stood up, careful not to wake them. As she walked toward the door, she looked back one last time and smiled faintly.

Maybe this was how healing started not through big words, but through little moments like this.