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

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

a wave of unease rise

[Why is Mommy crying?]

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

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

for

cried the whole way

and pretending to read to him, her mind had drifted, lost

arms wrapped around her neck, his soft cheek

nose sting. She'd burst into

to wipe away her tears with his chubby little hands, mumbling over and over, "Don't cry, Mommy. Don't cry... Irwin's here, Irwin

things she usually said to him. The more anxious he got, the more his words

day, Briony had been completely broken.

her in every way they could. She'd endured it all, no matter how bitter or difficult-but knowing her mother

connections. All she could do was watch as her mother

Irwin started crying too, blowing on her with his tiny lips,

Mommy hurts,

was the worst, lowest day Briony had had in five years. And yet, because Irwin was there, his pure, childlike love had soothed the