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,

sobs. "It's like she doesn't love me the way she used to! Dad, is it because I have a new mom now? Is

sofa, pulling a few tissues from the box to

though you've reconnected with Mom Rosita,

Irwin sniffled. "Really?"

"Dad never lies."

and the knot of anxiety and

he longed for Briony's

was sick and couldn't eat much, but the soup Briony made always tasted so good and comforting. He wanted her to

still really

"If you finish your

that, Irwin's eyes

Manor, Briony went straight back

her mother would

a week,

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

to deliver the next day for

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

holidays. This year, she wanted to spend

now... she

her stomach, a tangle of emotions

what to do about the

he found out

he be the same

Briony dwelled on it, the more foolish she

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