Julian’s Stand-In Wife

His words pierced right through Diana’s heart.

So, her son wasn’t abandoning her.

He didn’t choose his rich father over his poor mother, either.

He simply thought that resistance might lead to more suffering. Given that he had experienced the pain of getting dragged into the adults’ conflicts, it was understandable.

Diana hugged Sean even tighter. She couldn’t bear to let him go. “Sean, I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy with work and taking care of Betty that I’ve neglected you.”

He was also a child.

How could he possibly consider so many things?

He was clearly hurt as well.

Yet all he was concerned about was how to become stronger, so he could protect her and Betty.

Her son didn’t abandon her.

But her overwhelming joy quickly gave way to deep, aching sorrow.

Julian was wrong.

She wasn’t a great mother.

her children to bear so much at a tender

and Betty leave with Julian was

was the

need to live life as if he were walking on

to choose from and access

fear getting

fine. From now on, don’t think so much. Two- year-olds like you should be having trips to the beach, play with balloons and kites, roll around on grass,

shouldn’t be like

of being this mature was simply too

Diana’s heart, giving her

even more than the thought

to her cheeks,

now a huge gap between

couldn’t return to

had grown so

them by

to look

course,” Julian said. He carried both children in his arms, and Noel

they were about to

in his tracks. “What’s the matter?

your request by going home with you. In that case, you

Julian was stunned.