Ryan looked at his father, feeling conflicted inside.
He wanted to stop Samuel but couldn't find a valid reason.
Samuel had never done anything wrong. He had always been a model husband and father.
"Can I go with you, Dad?" he asked, hoping that his presence might prevent anything bad from happening.
Samuel smiled lightly and nodded. "Sure, it's just a casual class reunion. You can come along. Some people might bring their kids too."
Andrew forced a smile. "You should go alone and enjoy yourself. Sometimes bringing the kids can be uncomfortable. I'll stay home and take care of Ryan."
To be honest, Andrew always felt guilty. Over the years, he had taken advantage of Samuel's struggles, forcing him back into a relationship, and even decided to have a child just to keep him.
So, to make up for that, Andrew tried to act generously and selflessly, let Samuel had his own free time without being burdened by housework, hoping that Samuel wouldn't resent him for being so selfish. Even if those actions left him feeling miserable.
"You should go. Ryan and I will be fine at home," Andrew said, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to sound natural. He knew he had no right to stop Samuel, and he didn't want Samuel to feel controlled or restricted either.
Samuel looked deep into Andrew's eyes, as if understanding his thoughts. "Thank you, Andrew. Well, Ryan, today's your special day. How about I make your favorite spaghetti?" He said this and then turned to walk into the kitchen.
Andrew stood there watching Samuel's back, his heart heavy. He knew he had done the right thing when showing generosity and selflessness. But why did he feel so empty and worried?
He didn't want to stop Samuel because he felt he had no right to. Yet, the fear of losing the person he loved haunted him.
In this world, men could marry each other, but it was still rare. Their country had only legalized same-sex marriage a few years ago. The relationship between Samuel and Andrew was still a secret to many people because Andrew was always careful to protect Samuel's reputation. He didn't want to do anything that might harm Samuel.
The weekend arrived, and Samuel was getting ready to leave the house. Before going, he turned to look at Andrew and Ryan. "I'll be back soon. You two have fun at home, okay?"
"Yes, Dad, have a great time," Ryan said, trying to flash his brightest smile.
Andrew nodded slightly but remained silent.
He was still worried about that ex-girlfriend of Samuel's. He could only hope that no matter how many memories that place held, Samuel's heart still belonged to this family, the one he had spent his life protecting and loving.
As the day stretched on, Ryan decided he couldn't let his small dad sit around worrying. So, he insisted that they go shopping.
"Come on, Dad. I'm almost done with high school, and I don't even have a suit for prom yet! All my friends are already ready!"
Ever since he was little, Ryan had been the little prince of the house, almost always getting whatever he wanted. Luckily, even though he was spoiled, he never turned out badly. In fact, he was very well-behaved and rarely went out to party. His hobbies mostly involved building puzzles and little games.
This time, since their little prince wanted to go shopping, of course, Andrew couldn't say no. He looked at his adorable son and smiled gently. "Alright, let's go shopping."
The two of them went to a high-end shopping mall. It was filled with luxurious brands selling expensive items. This was the favorite place for the rich and idle people of the city. Ryan excitedly tried on outfit after outfit, confidently swiping his father's black card to buy the ones he liked.
While Ryan was trying on a Gucci suit, Andrew stood nearby, suddenly remembered the old days when he and Samuel were preparing for their wedding.
"You know, when your dad and I were getting ready to get married, I was picking out clothes just like this," Andrew said, his eyes glowing with fond memories.