Colby was resolute in his belief.
Nathan laughed in disbelief and asked, âYou want to punish him? What do you plan to do?â
With a secretive grin, Colby responded, âItâs a secret.
I canât tell Daddy.
â
Nathan was left speechless.
He sighed and playfully tapped Colbyâs nose.
âYouâre only five years old.
Are you really keeping secrets from me?â
Colby simply smiled, his features softening into the innocent, childlike expression shared with Destinee.
Looking at his sonâs face, so similar to his own, Nathan sighed internally, suspecting Colby was merely jesting.
âColby, I know youâre clever.
I canât hide anything from you, and nothing seems too challenging for you.
But I hope you wonât be so sensitive.
I wish for you to have a joyful childhood like Destineeâs, without worrying about adult matters.
â
With a cheerful smile, Colby remarked, âDaddy, donât worry.
I will.
â
Nathan gently patted him on the head.
Nathan felt compassion for his sonâs frail condition, and then his eyes drifted to a few books on the bedside table.
He stood up and picked up the books.
Among them were mathematics pamphlets and foreign language books.
A book with a black cover at the bottom caught Nathanâs attention.
It was titled âPathological Psychology.
â
Nathan frowned and paused for a moment.
He turned to Colby and asked, âHave you been reading this book lately?â
Blinking slowly, Colby responded somewhat absently, âYes, itâs so dull being on a drip.
I donât enjoy cartoons.
I just want to understand what adults are thinking.
â
Nathan looked at him with a puzzled expression.
âWho gave this book to you? Are you sure you understand it?â
Shaking his head, Colby replied, âI asked a doctor in the lab for it, but itâs quite hard.
I can read the words, but most of it seems very complex.
Iâve tried reading it several times but still canât grasp it.
Can you explain it to me, Daddy?â
With a serious demeanor, Nathan took the book without hesitation.
âThis is a good book.
I like it too.
How about I read it first and then explain it to you after Iâm done?â
âOkay.
â
Seeing that Colby agreed quickly, Nathan let out a sigh of relief and began to thoroughly search all the drawers in the ward.
While Destinee still enjoyed listening to bedtime fairy tales, Colby was solving math problems meant for junior high students and reading adult psychology books.