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.
