Chapter 69

Reyna watched from afar, staring at the love that radiated between father and son. Her heart was filled with deep gratitude. In those small moments, true happiness was felt, unadorned and irreplaceable.

Night began to fall. After enjoying the moment together on the beach, they returned to the tent. Under thousands of twinkling stars, Aryan lit a small campfire that radiated warmth and dim light. They sat in a circle, wrapped in blankets to fight the cold night wind.

"Isn't that fun?" Aryan said to Reyna, turning to Steven who was starting to feel sleepy in his mother's lap. Reyna nodded, smiling gently.

"This is a moment we should be grateful for. It may be as simple as this, but it's so precious," Reyna replied softly, her fingers stroking Steven's straight hair.

After some time talking and enjoying toasting marshmallows by the fire, drowsiness began to overtake them. Aryan put some more wood into the fire to keep it burning until morning. Steven was already asleep in Reyna's arms, a peaceful expression plastered on his face.

Aryan took Reyna's hand, his smile warm and full of love. They had been together for five years, and every time he saw her, it was like falling in love for the first time. Nothing could replace that feeling, when he saw Reyna's eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"Tonight is so beautiful," Aryan murmured softly as he looked up at the star-filled sky. "I can't think of a more perfect place to be than here, with you."

Reyna returned his smile softly, "I feel the same way, Aryan. I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

They both fell silent for a moment, enjoying the peace of the night. The gentle breeze on the beach made their hair stand on end, but the warmth of love in their hearts made everything feel comfortable.

"Reyna, there's something I want to tell you," Aryan said suddenly, making Reyna turn to him curiously.

"What is it, Aryan?" Reyna asked.

Steven took a deep breath before finally saying, "I want us to be together forever, Reyna. Do you want to have another child with me?"

Reyna was silent for a moment, her eyes radiating unimaginable happiness and surprise. She then embraced Aryan in her arms, "Yes, Aryan. I want to! But I do have a little trauma with the child that was miscarried from my womb."

"It's okay, but you've already felt having a child that you've raised all this time?" Aryan asked instead.

Reyna shook her head. "No, I feel happy."

She thought about giving a sistet or brother to Steven.

They hugged each other tightly, enjoying the beautiful moment together. However, Aryan suddenly remembered something he had to tell Reyna.

"Reyna, there's actually something I have to tell you," Aryan said softly. "I have to go abroad to work for a year, to be exact in Paris. I don't know if we can survive this distance. This is an important business trip. Honestly, it's hard for me to leave you alone."

Reyna was silent for a moment, trying to absorb the information she had just received. She knew how important the opportunity was for Aryan, but she also didn't want to let go of her love.

"It's okay, Aryan. I know this is a big opportunity for your career. I will take good care of Steven. We can definitely get through this distance, right?" Aryan said confidently.

Aryan smiled in relief, feeling very lucky to have Reyna by his side. They both believed that their love could overcome all obstacles, including the distance that separated them.

However, as the night grew deeper and the moonlight dimmed, Reyna began to feel anxious. Her heart was beating fast, as if something was about to happen.

The sound of the waves was getting louder, making them both feel restless. Then, suddenly a loud sound was heard that made Reyna's heart choke.

"We should rest in the tent while accompanying Steven to sleep. I'm sleepy too," Reyna suggested.

"Come on, let's rest now!"

As the night deepened, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore became soft music that lulled the three of them to sleep. In the silence, Aryan sat stunned, looking at his family with happiness surging in his heart. He felt lucky to have such simple yet precious moments.

The next morning, they woke up to the soft sunlight shining from the edge of the horizon. Steven was the first to wake up, running out of the tent with renewed enthusiasm. Aryan and Reyna exchanged smiles, then went out after the little one.

The last day at the beach was fully utilized. Running along the beach, collecting shells, and playing until their bodies were covered in happy sweat. The sound of the waves crashing softly became the perfect backdrop for their happiness.

Reyna, with a big smile, invited Steven to look for the most unique shells. "Come on, honey! Let's look for big, colorful shells!" she exclaimed while pointing towards the sparkling sand. Steven, with unstoppable enthusiasm, ran in the direction his mother pointed, his small hands holding a plastic bucket that was already half full of small shells.

Aryan, laughing at his son’s antics, joined in. He crouched down next to Steven, helping him find a larger shell. “Look, Steven! This is a beautiful shell!” Aryan showed him a beautiful pink shell. Steven, with sparkling eyes, picked it up and held it high. “Shell! Shell!” he shouted excitedly.

Meanwhile, Reyna took a moment to enjoy the view. She watched the sun begin to dip in the western horizon, creating stunning shades of orange and red in the sky. “This is the perfect moment,” she thought, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. She took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of the ocean.

After a while, they took a break under the umbrella of the tent they had set up. Aryan took out the snacks they had brought, and they sat together, enjoying their food while laughing and telling stories. Steven, with his face covered in shells and biscuit crumbs, kept telling stories about the shells he had found.

“When we get back, we can make a shell collection at home!” Steven exclaimed excitedly. Reyna and Aryan looked at each other, smiling at how happy their son was. “Of course, honey. We’ll make a special shelf for your shell collection,” Reyna replied.

After resting, they went back to playing. Aryan and Reyna took turns carrying Steven, running towards the incoming waves. Every time the waves hit their feet, Steven’s cheerful laughter echoed in the air. “The water is cold, Daddy! The water is cold!” he shouted as he jumped up and down.

As the evening approached, the sky became more beautiful with deeper colors. Reyna took her camera out of her bag and began taking pictures of their family. “Come on, let’s take a picture together!” she exclaimed. They gathered, Aryan holding Reyna and Steven in the middle, and Reyna pointing the camera at them. “Smile!” she shouted, and they all smiled widely, capturing the happy moment.

After the photo session, they began to dismantle the tent. Aryan and Reyna worked together, while Steven helped in whatever way he could, like gathering small items. “We have to hurry before the sun goes down,” Aryan said with a smile.