Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 244

"Because Mother Rosita said if I ever acted like I cared more for anyone else than for my mom, she'd get upset and jealous. And being upset and jealous just means you really care about someone."

Jeannie frowned. "Mother Rosita?"

Irwin nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I have two moms. One is the mom who's raised me since I was born, that's Briony. The other is the mom who gave birth to me, that's Mother Rosita."

Jeannie pressed her lips together, taking a moment to process this before asking gently, "Between your two moms, who do you like more?"

Irwin glanced around, then lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Honestly, I like the mom who raised me more. But I can't say that out loud. Mother Rosita would get mad, and when she gets mad, it's scary..."

A flicker of emotion crossed Jeannie's eyes. Then she smiled and affectionately ruffled Irwin's hair.

"I don't know your Mother Rosita, but I think the most important thing for a child is to be honest. If you need your mom, you should be brave and tell her. You don't have to act a certain way just to test her feelings. That kind of thing can actually hurt the people you care about, and it might even push them further away."

Irwin stared at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Really," Jeannie said warmly. "So, these past few days, you've been clinging to me and ignoring your mom on purpose? You were trying to test her?"

Irwin nodded sheepishly.

Jeannie let out a soft, helpless laugh. "I thought you just liked Ms. Radcliffe so much."

"I do like Ms. Radcliffe," Irwin admitted, sighing, "but a teacher isn't the same as a mom. I love my mom-no one could ever replace her."

Jeannie smiled, gently patting his head in encouragement. "In that case, next time you see your mom, don't ignore her on purpose, okay? Let's be honest and brave little ones, all right?"

"I got it," Irwin promised.

Irwin felt much better. He called Stewart to ask when his mom

him Briony wouldn't be

heard Briony was sick, he

him up, and the

wasn't feeling

days. This

lately, thinking she'd wrap things up before heading to Silveridge in a few days.

figured it was just the

back to Skybreeze Retreat. With Marlene

Retreat, Briony went straight to bed

soup. After finishing it, Briony broke out

Stewart

didn't even

taught everything she needs to the new nanny. She won't be coming to Southcreek

come to Southcreek Manor, but

sick at all. But thanks for your concern-no need to trouble yourselves." With

closed door, his

head bowed,

was upset and gave his hair a gentle ruffle before leading

Mom's new baby finally go to heaven? He missed

drive home, Irwin mulled things over in the backseat

he woke, he found

in sight; only Ms. Radcliffe

Ms. Radcliffe was nice, but

couldn't stop thinking about the