Chapter 12
The sound of a car drifted in from the driveway.
Stewart was home.
Briony gripped the pregnancy test in her hand as she opened the bathroom door.
Downstairs, Irwin's excited voice rang out.
"Daddy!"
Briony made her way down the stairs, step by deliberate step.
Irwin stood on the couch, arms stretched wide toward Stewart. "Daddy, pick me up!"
Stewart bent down and scooped Irwin into his arms.
Briony noticed at once that Stewart had changed his clothes.
Then she remembered the three unanswered calls earlier...
The cruel truth was impossible to ignore.
on the last step, her knuckles white around the pregnancy
looked over at Briony. "Mommy, Daddy's taking me out
glanced at Irwin, then let her gaze settle on
today. His deep-set eyes betrayed nothing,
at her, his expression as distant as
said, his voice low and pleasant— but every word edged with detachment. "I'll be staying in Northborough for a while.
was shutting
listened, a faint, bitter smile curving her lips,
It felt ironic.
the bathroom, she'd been
grew anxious as Briony said
at the café earlier; he'd only asked if she wanted to come because he was sure she'd say
agreed? Then what
go find
Irwin called, his voice small and
meeting
son's eyes. She just answered softly,
deep down, Stewart was probably taking Irwin to see Rosita.
a sigh
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!