Chapter 68

Three years later.

Aryan opened the door to his house and felt the warmth that greeted him. In the living room, he saw his father-in-law, Mr. Marcel, sitting relaxed on the sofa, laughing while listening to Reyna's story. A wide smile adorned Aryan's face when he saw his wife who was now increasingly adept at playing the role of a mother.

"Welcome, honey!" Reyna greeted while waving. "Dad was just telling me about his experience at the office."

"Good afternoon, Dad," Aryan greeted respectfully. He was happy to see his father-in-law in good condition. "How are you, Dad?"

"Okay, Aryan. Just sharing a story with Reyna about the difficult times at the office. Turns out, she's very good at listening," replied Mr. Marcel with a proud smile.

Reyna smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Dad always has interesting stories. So I don't get bored listening."

Aryan nodded, feeling proud of his wife. He knew Reyna had tried hard to be a good mother to Steven, their three-year-old son. Since birth, Reyna had shown extraordinary dedication and affection.

“Steven woke up from his nap?” Aryan asked, looking for his son.

“Not long ago. He was playing in his room. I’ve prepared soap and shampoo for him. He’s getting better at playing by himself,” Reyna replied, then added, “I think he’s ready for a bath.”

“That’s great! I’ll take him for a bath after this,” Aryan said, feeling excited. He always enjoyed simple moments like that with Steven.

Reyna stood up and walked towards Steven’s room. Aryan followed behind her, feeling a simple yet meaningful happiness. When they arrived at the room, Aryan saw Steven engrossed in his toy, a red racing car that his grandfather had just bought him.

“Steven!” Aryan called softly. “Daddy’s here. Do you want to take a bath now?”

Steven turned, his face bright. “Daddy! This car is so fast!” he said, pointing to his car.

“The car is fast, but we have to take a bath first before we play again. Come on, let’s clean ourselves up,” Aryan said with a smile.

Reyna took out soap and shampoo from the shelf in the bathroom. “This is your favorite soap, Steven. It has a fresh orange scent,” he said, showing a yellow bottle of soap.

Steven ran to his mother and took the bottle of soap. “I want orange soap!” he shouted happily.

Aryan and Reyna exchanged glances, feeling indescribable happiness. They both knew that small moments like this were the most precious in their lives.

After taking a bath, Aryan invited Steven to play in the living room. They played with cars, while Reyna prepared snacks for them. The sound of laughter and jokes echoed throughout the house, creating a warm atmosphere that made Aryan feel grateful.

“Steven, let’s have a race!” Aryan invited, moving his car quickly on the carpet.

“Ready, Dad! I want to too!” replied Steven, following his father’s footsteps with enthusiasm.

Mr. Marcel, who was still sitting on the sofa, saw the happiness of the little family and felt proud. He knew that Reyna and Aryan had created a loving environment for Steven. Moments like this were what made their lives meaningful.

After a while of playing, Reyna came over with a plate of snacks. “These are for you two. Healthy snacks to keep you energized,” she said with a smile.

“Thank you, Mommy!” Steven exclaimed cheerfully.

Aryan took some snacks and gave them to Steven. “Remember, we have to eat before we play again. Health is important!”

They continued their time together with laughter and happiness. Aryan felt lucky to have a wonderful wife and a cheerful son. He knew that even though their life was not always perfect, love and togetherness were the keys to facing all challenges.

After that, Mr. Marcel said goodbye to go home and Steven also accompanied his grandfather to the front door.

When night fell, Aryan and Reyna put Steven to bed. They read a bedtime story, and Steven enthusiastically listened to every word. After the story was over, Reyna kissed her son’s forehead and said good night.

Aryan looked at Reyna with love. “You did a great job, honey. Steven is so lucky to have you as his mom.”

Reyna smiled, feeling appreciated. “I just did my best. We are a great team.”

After putting Steven to bed, Aryan and Reyna sat on the couch, enjoying a quiet moment after a long day. They shared stories and dreams, planning a better future for their family.

“How about we plan a family vacation?” Aryan asked. “I think we need some time to relax together.”

Reyna nodded in agreement. “That’s a great idea! We can go to the beach or somewhere fun for the kids.”

They both started planning their dream vacation, full of hope and happiness. That night, Aryan felt that his life was complete with Reyna and Steven. He knew that love and togetherness were the most important things in their lives, and he was determined to always keep this little family happy.

The weekend finally arrived, and Aryan felt an urgent need to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. After a busy week and the inevitable work calls, he longed for some quiet time with his family—Reyna, his devoted wife, and Steven, their three-year-old little son. The beach was always the answer to his every short trip wish, where turquoise waters and soft sand offered solace.

“Yay, we’re on vacation,” Steven said, feeling very happy.

“Are you excited, baby boy?” Ask Aryan.

“Of course, Daddy. I’ve never been to the beach,” Steven replied. Throughout the journey he felt very excited.

Aryan chose a beach that was rarely visited, far from the crowds of tourists. For him, a vacation was not about sharing the beach with hundreds of other people but about enjoying more intense togetherness with his little family. When morning broke, the sun began to peek from the eastern horizon, the three of them set off in their car, gliding along the road that crossed the green hills until the coastline was visible.

Upon arriving at the beach, the fresh sea breeze gently caressed their faces. The expansive white sand greeted their steps as Aryan and Reyna walked side by side, their hands held by Steven who was out of breath trying to keep up with his parents’ steps with uncontrollable joy.

After finding a shady spot under the shade of a coconut tree, Aryan and Reyna decided to set up a tent. Steven’s cheerful laughter echoed as he saw how the colorful tent cloth was stretched and set up. This joint effort became a precious moment, although modest, knitting new memories for their little family.

Reyna then took out the food supplies they had brought. Sandwiches, fresh fruits, and orange juice became the simple but adequate picnic menu that they enjoyed while relaxing on the picnic mat. Meanwhile, Steven was busy playing in the sand, creating small towers with the bucket mold he brought.

The afternoon gradually turned into evening as the sun moved down the sky, shedding a golden orange color that shone over the ocean. At that time, Aryan carried Steven to the edge of the water, letting the little one feel the coldness of the waves on his tiny feet. Steven laughed out loud every time the water touched his feet, splashing around.