"Sit behind me, Dad," Lucius said, gesturing toward the bicycle he had carefully prepared for their outing.
Alekis raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I can manage just fine on my own," he countered, motioning to another bicycle nearby. "You should sit behind me instead."
Lucius hesitated but eventually relented with a chuckle, letting his father take charge. He knew Alekis's determination was not to be argued with.
Meanwhile, Layla and Fiona opted for a shared bicycle, laughing as they debated who would ride first. They decided to take turns.
"I'll ride my own cycle," Ivy stated firmly, addressing Roderick.
"That's great," Roderick replied, masking the faint sting of her tone with a polite smile. He wondered, not for the first time, why Ivy had even agreed to join them when her dislike for him was so apparent.
Deciding not to dwell on it, he focused instead on the purpose of this outing—to clear his mind and create some cherished moments with his family.
