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.

looked at Keen's face-so strikingly similar to

knew better than Abby just how much

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

Keen. "So, Keen, you came all this way to see your mom. Was there something

around his backpack. He spoke in a small voice, "I... I brought something

on him for the first time all evening.

of hesitation

looked up, meeting

look she'd given him since

excitement welled up

Abby was right-maybe Mom really did care about

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

gave him a

mug, and fidgeted awkwardly. "It's... a birthday present I made for you," he mumbled. "I got it back

fault to Stella, and now, the

mug to Stella, his voice barely

made this myself. I hope you'll like

close to an

only took a single soft word from him for Stella

But not this time.