Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 59

"I hate you!"

Irwin hurled the rest of his bedtime stories to the floor and stomped on them, his voice trembling with fury. "You're a liar! You don't want me, well, I don't want you either! I don't want any of this!"

"Irwin!"

Stewart grabbed Irwin's arm, his handsome face darkening with anger. "Say one more word like that and you'll be sorry!"

Irwin struggled with all his might, but he was no match for his father's strength.

Blinded by rage, Irwin couldn't see the storm brewing in his father's eyes. All he wanted was to let out every ounce of hurt and frustration bottled up inside him—

"I just hate her!" Irwin jutted out his chin, his tear-stained eyes glaring stubbornly at Stewart. "You said it yourself-she's not really my mom, right? So if she isn't my mom, why should I have to like her? I hate her! I hate that she lied to me!"

Stewart froze.

That one sentence-"You said she's not really my mom!"-hit him like a slap in the face.

He let go of Irwin and turned to look at Briony.

rooted to the spot, silent and

face drained of all color. Her usually bright, clear eyes were now clouded, as if a heavy mist had

so in control, felt a wave of unease

[Why is Mommy crying?]

Staring at Irwin, who was now flushed and defiant, she suddenly saw him as he'd been

remembered the time he'd clumsily, yet so tenderly, wiped away

was the day she'd visited her mother in prison. She'd seen the bruises on her mother's face and realized, for the first time,

the

and pretending to

had noticed. He'd scrambled onto her lap, chubby arms wrapped around her neck, his soft cheek pressing against hers. “Don't be sad, Mommy.

She'd burst into

tears with his chubby little hands, mumbling over and over,

his words still limited, so he repeated the comforting things she usually said to him. The more anxious he got, the

completely broken. She'd clung to Irwin, sobbing

hadn't let up. They ruined her reputation at university, schemed against her in every way they could. She'd endured it all, no matter how bitter or difficult-but knowing

no connections. All she could

Briony clutched her chest and said it hurt, little Irwin started crying too, blowing on her with his tiny lips, trying to

hurts, Irwin hurts

because Irwin was there, his pure, childlike love