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.

the spot, silent and

face drained of all color. Her usually bright, clear eyes were now clouded, as if a heavy mist had settled over them, snuffing out their light

always so in control, felt a

[Why is Mommy crying?]

of Briony's mind. Staring at Irwin, who was now flushed and defiant, she suddenly saw him as he'd been at two

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

bruises on her mother's face and realized, for

the whole

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

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

burst into tears again,

done his best 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 will stay

usually said to him. The more anxious he got, the more his words tumbled out in

Briony had been completely broken. She'd clung to Irwin, sobbing

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 her mother was being bullied

she could do was watch as her

it hurt, little Irwin started crying too, blowing on her with his tiny lips, trying to

Mommy hurts, Irwin

five years. And yet, because Irwin