Not long after, Arthur returned carrying a small glass bowl filled with fresh Shine Muscat grapes.

"Your snack, young master."

Skylar glanced down at the bowl and frowned immediately, deeply offended.

"Arthur...!" he protested. "Why grapes?"

Arthur handed him the bowl calmly. "Because it is late."

"Grapes are sweet, just like cake. So, why not cake?" Skylar asked in disbelief. "Or pie? Or chips? There are less salty chips, you know."

Arthur remained unmoved with his complaint.

"Young master, I need to remind you... that you should not eat sweet desserts or salty chips and crackers before bed?"

Skylar stared at the grapes as if they had personally offended him. Then he looked back at Arthur with narrowed eyes.

"...You are very strict today, like my daddy."

Arthur replied politely. "I learned from him."

Skylar opened his mouth, clearly preparing an argument, before eventually giving up with another heavy sigh. He said, "Alright."

Nevertheless, he accepted the bowl, gently set it on his lap, and then popped a grape into his mouth.

A few peaceful minutes passed afterward. The television’s sounds filled the room as Skylar slowly relaxed against the sofa, fully absorbed in the arctic adventure on screen.

Then suddenly— 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A familiar voice echoed faintly from the main entrance.

Skylar’s head turned toward the door so quickly that he nearly dropped the remote.

He hurriedly placed the bowl on the table before jumping off the sofa and running toward the entrance as fast as his small legs could carry him.

"Daddy!"

"Sky?" Zachary’s voice carried both surprise and confusion as he stepped inside the house, immediately spotting the little figure racing toward him.

He loosened his tie slightly while glancing down at his watch, his brows knitting together.

"Why are you still awake?"

Skylar stopped directly in front of him, breathing a little heavily from running.

"You should be in bed now," Zachary added, his tone calm but firm.

Skylar did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked up quietly at his father, and the excitement on his face slowly softened.

"Dad, I miss you—"

The words were simple, yet they immediately melted the remaining exhaustion from Zachary’s expression.

The tension in his shoulders eased almost instantly.

"And..." Skylar hesitated for a moment before continuing carefully, "...there’s something I want to ask you."

Zachary exhaled quietly, guilt flickering across his face for a brief second. He gently took Skylar’s small hand into his own.

"I’m sorry, buddy," he said softly while guiding him toward the staircase. "My business trip was unexpectedly extended. I could only return today."

Skylar nodded slowly, though it was obvious he did not fully understand what "extended" truly meant. All he understood was that his father had stayed away longer than promised, and he had disliked every single day of waiting for him to return.

Still, now that his father was finally home, his unhappiness faded quickly.

"Come," Zachary said softly. "Let’s go upstairs. You should be in bed now."

They walked side by side through the quiet hallway. Halfway there, Arthur appeared once again, approaching them.

"Master, should I prepare dinner?" he asked respectfully.

Zachary shook his head. "No need. I’m not hungry. You can rest."

"Yes, Master."

Arthur stepped aside immediately, watching silently as the father and son continued toward the second floor together.

After a few moments of silence, Zachary glanced down at Skylar. "So," he asked calmly, "what was it that you wanted to ask me?"

Skylar did not answer immediately.

By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Skylar suddenly stopped walking altogether.

Zachary paused as well and turned slightly toward him.

Skylar lifted his head slowly. His small face looked unusually serious again, though this time there was unmistakable excitement hiding behind it.

"Dad..." he began carefully, almost cautiously.

"Yes?"

"...Can I meet Aunt Sienna again?"

The words lingered quietly in the air between them.

For a brief moment, Zachary completely froze.

The question itself sounded harmless, simple, innocent, exactly the kind of thing a child would ask without overthinking it. But to Zachary, it was far from simple.

His expression nearly shifted before he realized. Almost immediately, he smoothed away every trace of shock from his face, forcing his features back into calm composure, the same way he handled difficult negotiations in business meetings.

"Why?" Zachary asked.

"Dad, I miss Aunty Sienna’s cooking," he admitted, with complete honesty, nodding to himself as if that alone were a solid reason. After a brief pause, his voice softened. "And... I miss her too."

Something tightened painfully inside Zachary’s chest. He looked away for a second, his jaw clenching slightly. Because the truth was, he missed her too.

Far more than he wanted to admit to himself.

More times than he could count, he had almost called her.

Sometimes late at night after work.

Sometimes, while sitting alone in his office.

Sometimes, for no reason at all except the sudden urge to hear her voice for a few minutes.

But every single time, he stopped himself before pressing the call button.

Because things are different now, Zoey had seen Sienna’s picture.

And that single detail alone was enough to make everything dangerous.

Zachary knew his younger sister well enough to understand exactly how her mind worked. Once Zoey became curious about something or someone, she would not stop digging until she uncovered everything. And if her attention shifted toward Sienna, then trouble would follow sooner or later.

That was precisely why he had deliberately kept his distance ever since they returned from the villa. Even though it had not been easy.

"Daddy?"

Skylar’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts immediately.

"Dad, can you ask her to come here, and maybe stay over? Maybe tuck me to bed and read me stories?"

Zachary stared at him quietly.

Skylar’s eyes were bright, completely innocent, and unaware of all the complications hidden behind such a simple request. To him, this was nothing more than wanting to see someone he liked again.

For a moment, Zachary hesitated. ’Should I call her?’

The thought appeared so naturally that it startled him. His fingers curled slightly at his side.