Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 524

Pembroke Family Living Room

Smack!

Adrian planted his foot on the sofa, slapped Giselle's hand away from his cheek, and hurled his toy to the floor with all the force a six-year-old could muster.

"Go away!"

"You're a liar!"

Giselle froze, knuckles whitening around the video game controller in her hands. After a few seconds, she looked at Adrian, her face twisted with hurt. "Adrian, you think I'm... a liar?"

"That's right!" Adrian jabbed a finger at her, the words bursting out in a rush. "It's all your fault! That's why my mom never wants to be around me. I don't want to play your stupid games-I want my mom! I want my mom!"

He leapt from the sofa and ran to Nathaniel, shoving the laptop off his lap and grabbing fistfuls of his shirt. “You jerk, give me back my phone! I want to see my mom!"

"She's not coming back."

The words dropped into the room like a stone, killing all sound.

Giselle, who had stood motionless until then, slowly turned around. A faint, cold smile curled her lips, though her eyes were blank. Each word came out sharp as ice. "Didn't you know? Your mother came back already. The moment her plane landed, she went straight to the hospital to see Julian. She left you behind. She's not coming back."

"Adrian, don't you get it yet?"

"Your mother doesn't love you. She loves Julian-the good, obedient, perfect Julian. How could she possibly love a troublemaker like you? You're the kid who pushed someone down the stairs. You're always acting out. Only I-only I love you, Adrian. I never judge you, I always believe you, and I'll never abandon you. Only me!"

Giselle was nearly hysterical.

family got involved, she hadn't been able to get close to Adrian. And yet, at some point,

She couldn't accept it.

all

"Giselle! That's enough!"

felt his nerves snap at her words.

Too late.

for two seconds, then let out a

my mom! My mom would never-she, she...” His voice shook as he screamed, but his eyes were filling with tears,

true, wasn't

never came to see him... But he'd tried so hard. He studied, he tried not to lie, he tried not to fight... Julian wasn't even pushed by him... So why

it because she didn't believe

Because Julian was better?

was

the verge of breaking

a white shirt strode

Forrest.

to Nathaniel. "I'm so sorry, sir. This gentleman forced

Adrian, who was silently sobbing, and pressed his fingers to his aching

a bad time?"

wait for an

ceremony, he stepped past Nathaniel and dropped

Adrian's eyes. Gently, Forrest wiped away the boy's te with his thumb, his voice calm, warm, and steady. "Hey, Adrian. I'm someone your