Chapter 16

"Mom?"

Irwin refused to give up. He ran into the living room, calling out for her.

"Mom? Mom!"

He searched every corner, but Briony was nowhere to be found.

Only then did Irwin realize-Briony had left.

For the first time ever, Briony had walked out on him without a word.

Frustration welled up in Irwin. He grabbed all the toys Briony had bought him from the sofa and hurled them to the floor.

Upstairs in his study, Stewart heard the commotion and came down to check.

The living room was a disaster zone. In the chaos, the divorce papers got knocked under the sofa as well.

Stewart frowned and glanced toward the kitchen. "Where's your mom?"

"She's not my mom!" Irwin shouted back, voice trembling with anger. "What kind of mom just leaves her kid alone when he's sick? I can't stand her! I don't want her for a mom anymore!"

Stewart paused, caught off guard. "She left?"

"Yes!" Irwin's outburst faded and hurt flooded his face. Suddenly, he burst into tears.

"She's awful! She doesn't want me anymore, does she? Even after I got my pretty, gentle new mom, I never said I didn't want her. How could she do this to me... She's terrible! She's mean!"

big hand. "Even if you're upset, you

way she used to! Dad, is

sat down with him on the sofa, pulling a few tissues from the

just been really busy lately. Even though you've reconnected

Irwin sniffled. "Really?"

"Dad never lies."

the knot of anxiety and hurt in his chest slowly began to

he longed for

couldn't eat much, but the soup Briony made always tasted

still really

"If you finish your

that, Irwin's eyes lit up. "Really?

went straight back to

three days, her mother would finally be

in just over a week, it would be

everything they'd need. She'd even arranged for a cleaning service to come tomorrow and tidy the place

restoration to

had been to finish this one last commission and then close the studio

spend Christmas with her mother

she was

rested her hand on her stomach, a tangle of emotions churning

decided what to do

say if he found out she

he be the same way with her

on it,

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