The Greatest Regret

During dinner, I carefully fed Yael. While he still didn’t speak, he obediently opened his mouth for each bite. I patiently fed him, spoon by spoon, my heart aching with a mix of sorrow and tenderness.

Across the table, Silas sat watching coldly.

He suddenly spoke, "Look at you, treating him like a three-year-old. He’s already five. Can’t he feed himself?"

Ignoring his ridicule, I focused on taking care of Yael.

Yael seemed to sense his father’s disapproval and trembled slightly. I gently patted his back and comforted him softly, "It’s okay, Yael. Take your time, Mommy is here with you."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

In confusion, I glanced at Silas, but he remained indifferent. "It’s probably Lily. I invited her and Yuna over to visit."

My heart sank, but I suppressed my discomfort and got up to answer the door.

As expected, Lily and her daughter Yuna stood outside.

Lily beamed as she entered. "Silas, we’re here!" When she turned and saw me, her smile dimmed slightly. "Oh, Lena, you’re here too."

I forced a polite smile.

Yuna skipped happily to Silas and chirped, "Uncle, hug me!"

Silas’s face softened with a rare tender smile as he scooped her up. "Yuna, you’re here! Did you miss your good ol’ uncle?"

Watching the warm scene before me, my heart felt heavy and conflicted. Why could Silas be so gentle with Yuna yet so cold toward his own son?

I took Yael to the garden to play. There was a small pond there, his favorite spot for feeding fish.

Handing him a bag of fish food, I said, "You play here for a while, Yael. I’ll go prepare a warm bath for you."