The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 343

What's so special about Marvin, anyway? All he ever does is play the victim!

A surge of jealousy flashed in Keen's eyes.

He wanted, desperately, to expose Marvin for who he really was, to show Mom that this so-called innocent kid wasn't nearly as pure as she imagined.

But after drawing a deep breath, Keen forced himself to let it go.

He'd already lost to Marvin's games too many times before. He knew that without solid proof, no one would believe him.

Besides, that wasn't why he'd come to see his mother today.

He had something far more important to do.

With Keen present, Abby had to rein herself in; she couldn't badmouth Haynes O'Brien as freely as before.

Instead, the group slipped into casual, trivial conversation.

Throughout dinner, Marvin kept the mood light, entertaining everyone with funny stories about his day-to-day life. For someone so young, he was surprisingly quick-witted, making everyone burst out laughing again and again.

Stella ignored Keen, but Abby didn't leave him out. Every now and then, she asked about his schoolwork and what he'd been up to lately.

Keen responded to the adults with perfect manners and poise.

face-so strikingly similar to Haynes's-she let

Abby just how

for Keen, she never would have put up with Rachel for so long, or fussed over her like a housekeeper, even

nearly over, Abby turned to Keen. "So, Keen, you came all this way to see your mom.

in a small voice, "I... I brought something

for the first time

flicker of hesitation crossed

meeting Stella's

look she'd given

fluttery excitement welled

right-maybe Mom

head and admitted he was wrong, maybe she'd come back to him, just

him a little

his backpack, pulled out a mug, and fidgeted awkwardly. "It's... a birthday present I made

and now, the words

offered the mug to Stella, his

I hope you'll

was as close to an

a single soft word from him for Stella to let go of

But not this time.