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!"

over and ruffled Irwin's hair with his big hand. "Even

like she doesn't love me the way she used to! Dad, is it because I have

a few tissues from the box to gently

Even though you've reconnected with Mom Rosita,

Irwin sniffled. "Really?"

"Dad never lies."

the knot of anxiety and hurt in his chest slowly began

he longed

the soup Briony made always tasted so good and comforting. He wanted her to make it for him

still really

said, "If you finish your

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

Briony went straight back to

days, her mother would

over a week,

new home with everything they'd need. She'd even arranged

one artifact restoration to

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

she wanted to spend Christmas with her mother

now... she was

on her stomach, a tangle of emotions

what to do

say if he found out she

to Irwin-would he be

on it, the more

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