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!"

his big hand. "Even if you're upset, you shouldn't call

the way she

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

you've reconnected with

Irwin sniffled. "Really?"

"Dad never lies."

his father's words, and the knot of anxiety and hurt in his chest slowly began to

he longed

made always tasted so

really miss Mom

for a moment, then said, "If you finish your soup like

Irwin's eyes lit up. "Really?

Briony went straight back to her

three days, her mother would finally

in just over a week, it would

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

to

this one last commission

year, she wanted to spend

she

on her stomach, a tangle of emotions

what to do about

would Stewart say if he found out she

Irwin-would he be the same way with her

on it, the more foolish she

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