Chapter 9

Stewart stood outside the door, his sharply defined features cold and distant. "I'll be away on business for a few days. Rosita can't handle him alone, so I'll have to trouble you to look after him for a bit."

Briony wasn't feeling well, and she had no patience for him.

"Fine. When you come back to pick him up, remember to bring the divorce papers."

With that, she scooped Irwin into her arms and walked straight back to her office.

Stewart lingered at the doorway for a moment, watching her go.

Then he quietly closed the studio door and left.

In the break room, Briony set Irwin down and let out a heavy sigh.

"Take your jacket off and get ready for bed."

Irwin, for once, was perfectly obedient. He shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. "Mom, could you hang this up for me? Thank you."

He always had such sweet manners.

Briony smiled at him, took the jacket, and hung it on the coat rack.

They settled side by side on the bed.

Irwin wrapped his arms around Briony's, his voice muffled. "Mom, are you mad at me for going to see that woman?"

Briony blinked in surprise, then sighed softly. She hugged him close, her voice gentle. "She's the mother who gave birth to you. I know it's a lot to take in, but without her, there wouldn't be you. So don't call her 'that woman,' okay?"

Irwin's little knot of anxiety eased at her words.

when Briony hadn't come home that evening, that she was angry with him for meeting his birth mother and

out he'd worried for

his eyes. "Mom, I'll always love you. No matter who gave birth to

felt her heart melt. She stroked

know, sweetheart. And I promise you whenever you need me, I'll always be

Irwin yawned. "No lying, okay? If you

laugh, her

and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll never

was her only

winter break, so Irwin didn't need to go to

Briony's studio took on another restoration job-high pay, but

with Briony. Whenever she was busy,

along, Irwin was well-known and well-loved around the

the afternoon, Briony finally finished her restoration work. She stepped out of the lab and headed for

you

[Yep! Why,

put my name down for an appointment? I'll be there

going

ten days late, and my stomach's

have you not heard of a

she'd bought and forgotten at the bottom of her

together with a sigh, typing: [I bought one, but got

another all-nighter? Briony, I swear, if you ever drop

[Okay, okay.

returned to her office, she found Irwin fast asleep on the couch, the little blanket that had been

lunch sat on

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