Nathan struggled to keep a straight face and advised, âIf youâre going to poke him a thousand times, you need to be ready to forgive him afterward.
Have you really decided, Colby? You need to be truly willing to reconcile.
â
Reflecting on this, Colby shook his head and said, âWhen I made those three requests, I wanted to make him suffer, not really to forgive him⦠But actually, I donât hate him that much.
I can tell he genuinely feels remorseful and wants to make amends.
â
Nathan gently rubbed his sonâs head and spoke softly.
âThen take your time to think about the final request.
Once you decide, let him fulfill his obligation, Colby.
â
Colby nodded in agreement.
His features were a delicate, youthful reflection of Nathanâs.
The warm rapport between father and son filled the room with a cozy atmosphere.
Nathan pulled open the bedside drawer and retrieved a math book.
âDo you feel like working on some math problems, Colby? Daddy will help you.
â
âSure.
â
Encouraged by his sonâs readiness, Nathan adjusted the head of the bed so Colby could sit more comfortably.
He set aside the plate and then laid out the math book and a pencil.
As Colby began tackling the math problems, he became thoroughly engrossed, focusing intently on the task.
Nathan, supporting his chin with one hand, sat beside him on the bed, quietly observing but not giving away any answers.
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Watching his son methodically work through the problems step by step, Nathan felt a surge of pride.
âknock, knock, knock.
â
Then came a series of knocks at the door.
Colby stopped writing and his expression shifted subtly.
He clutched Nathanâs hand and said, âDaddy, I think theyâve got the wrong room.
You donât need to open the door.
â
Nathan gave him a thorough look.
Despite Colbyâs cleverness and frequent pranks on his father, he was not adept at lying and often betrayed his feelings through small gestures.
His behavior clearly indicated he was feeling guilty.
âWho is outside? Do you recognize them, Colby?â
Looking down, Colby replied, âNo, I donât know themâ¦â
With a mind full of questions, Nathan stood up and walked over to open the door.
Outside the door stood an elderly man, perhaps in his sixties.
His hair was gray, his beard unkempt.
His nose was prominent and straight, with sharp features that didnât seem native to Cadiered.