The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 349

Marvin's eyes, deep and dark as obsidian, rested quietly on Keen.

"No matter if we come in first or last, no matter how Stella does, I'll never be embarrassed by her," he said, his tone steady and sincere.

Keen shot him a glare, crossing his arms stubbornly. "Hmph! Wait until you're the one making a fool of yourself-let's see if you still talk like that! And don't you dare cry if we lose, you troublemaker!"

It hadn't always been like this. Keen hadn't always felt so ashamed of his own mother.

But everything changed the day Rachel came back into their lives.

Ever since then, it seemed like Mom was always the one getting laughed at. The worst was on his birthday, when she got into an argument with one of Mr. Wilkinson's friends. Everyone at the party stared and whispered, watching her

make a scene.

He'd overheard grown-ups-uncles and aunts-murmuring that his mother wasn't classy enough, that she was an embarrassment. Some even said it was no wonder Dad was always taking Rachel to important events instead.

At the time, Keen was still at his old preschool, and everyone there knew Stella was his mom.

anyone could talk about the next day. The story spread like wildfire, and soon every kid in his

used to play with him now kept their distance. He felt completely alone, shunned by nearly

transferred to a new

no one knew who his

teachers and making new friends. He even got Rachel to join him at

this new

spoke to him. The emptiness gnawed at

as amazing as

if there's nothing else, let's go back

Keen nodded. "Okay."

searching look, then

the room. "Mr. O'Brien, Ms. Pearce-you

Keen's mother, but she took him without telling anyone... I'd say she's the

in, unfazed. "Keen just told everyone himself-he came with us on his own. Ms. Pearce, you're the one who insisted Keen never lies. Have you already forgotten

caught

a faint, knowing smile. "So, what is it? Mr. O'Brien, Ms. Pearce-do you never admit to being wrong,