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.

Briony hadn't come home that evening, that she was angry with

turned out he'd worried

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

heart melt. She stroked his

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

it!" Irwin yawned. "No lying, okay? If you lie,

couldn't help but laugh, her irritation slowly fading

and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll

was

Irwin didn't need to go to

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

at the studio with

years of tagging along, Irwin was well-known

restoration work. She stepped out of the lab and headed for her

[Are you working

Why,

[Can you put my name down for an appointment?

[?? What's going on? Are

days late, and my stomach's been

have you not heard of a pregnancy

the test she'd bought and forgotten at the bottom of

pressed her lips together with a sigh, typing: [I bought one,

something like that. Let me guess- you pulled another all-nighter? Briony, I swear, if you ever drop dead

[Okay, okay.

the couch, the little blanket that had been covering

lunch sat on

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