Third person's POV
In such a short time, Kyrian had already figured out his place in Tabitha's heart. He knew exactly where her soft spots were and used his natural childlike tears as a "weapon" to try to keep her from leaving.
Though this might not make Tabitha happy, she couldn't bring herself to refuse him.
What parent could say no to a child crying for candy?
Especially when that child was the one she owed so much to, the one she wanted to give the entire world to.
But he didn't want the world. He just wanted Tabitha to stay.
"I..." Tabitha started to speak, but Kyrian cut her off.
"Mom, I love you so much, and you love me, and my siblings too. I already don't have a complete family. Do you want my siblings to grow up without a dad, only imagining what he looks like, envying other kids' happy families? Mom, haven't you heard? A happy, complete childhood can heal a person for life, but an incomplete one takes a lifetime to heal."
Kyrian's words hit Tabitha like a hammer, each one striking deep into her heart and leaving her lost in thought.
Tabitha was stunned. She never expected such profound words from a child so young. How old was he again?
"Did your dad teach you to say that?" Tabitha asked, her eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
"No, Dad never taught me that. He just tells me that boys have to be strong, that we can't give up when things get hard. Only when I grow up can I protect you. Dad never says bad things about you. He always says you're the best woman in the world, that he was wrong, and that he's sorry. If he could turn back time, he'd love you properly. My teacher says it's good to admit mistakes and correct them. Everyone deserves a second chance."
Kyrian's words began to melt the ice in Tabitha's heart. She could feel Derek's love for her through them, and she saw Kyrian's maturity and kindness.
"Mom, just give Dad a chance to prove himself, okay? If he really changes, can you forgive him? Can we be a family again?" Kyrian's rapid-fire questions left Tabitha speechless. Where did this kid get his eloquence from?
Kyrian's words were filled with hope and longing. He wanted his parents to reconcile and fill their home with warmth again.
Kyrian nuzzled against Tabitha and added, "Mom, Dad and I both love you so much."
His voice was soft and sweet, carrying the innocence and dependence unique to a child. It completely softened Tabitha's heart.
Tabitha looked at him with tenderness, gently stroking his head. "Sweetheart, I understand what you want, but life doesn't always go the way we hope. Wanting a complete family isn't wrong, but have you thought about whether Mom would be happy if I stayed with Dad?"
Kyrian's eyes filled with tears as he stared at Tabitha. Clearly, he'd never considered this before.
Tabitha patiently explained, "When I was little, I wanted the same thing—a complete family. But your grandmother didn't love your grandfather. She was always cold and distant. Think about it—if someone is unhappy every day, what happens over time? They become depressed, irritable, and they spread that negativity to everyone around them. Have you ever had a pet bird?"
"I have a puppy. Dad gave it to me. He said it's because you like dogs," Kyrian sniffled.
"Birds and dogs are different. A dog can run around the house freely, but a bird's world is just a small cage. It spends its whole life perched by the bars, staring at the blue sky outside. The sky seems so close, but it can never fly out. You might love the bird and give it the best food every day, but do you think it's really happy?"
"Are you saying Dad is like the cage, and you're the bird?" Kyrian blinked, asking.
Tabitha nodded. "Yes, that might sound selfish. Sweetheart, I was once a young girl full of hope for marriage, dreaming of a happy family, excited to meet you and give you a perfect home. But life doesn't always go as planned. Ending up like this is the last thing I wanted. Now that we're here, we don't have many choices. All I can do is love you and make it up to you in the days to come. As for your dad, we can't go back to how things were. You're a smart, understanding boy. You get it, don't you? I have my own life to pursue too."
Kyrian stared at Tabitha for a long moment before nodding. "Mom, I understand. I support your decision."