Stewart stood outside the door, his sharply defined features cold and distant. "I'll be away on business for a few days. Rosita can't handle him alone, so I'll have to trouble you to look after him for a bit."
Briony wasn't feeling well, and she had no patience for him.
"Fine. When you come back to pick him up, remember to bring the divorce papers."
With that, she scooped Irwin into her arms and walked straight back to her office.
Stewart lingered at the doorway for a moment, watching her go.
Then he quietly closed the studio door and left.
In the break room, Briony set Irwin down and let out a heavy sigh.
"Take your jacket off and get ready for bed."
Irwin, for once, was perfectly obedient. He shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. "Mom, could you hang this up for me? Thank you."
He always had such sweet manners.
Briony smiled at him, took the jacket, and hung it on the coat rack.
They settled side by side on the bed.
Irwin wrapped his arms around Briony's, his voice muffled. "Mom, are you mad at me for going to see that woman?"
Briony blinked in surprise, then sighed softly. She hugged him close, her voice gentle. "She's the mother who gave birth to you. I know it's a lot to take in, but without her, there wouldn't be you. So don't call her 'that woman,' okay?"
little knot of anxiety eased
that evening, that she was angry with
turned out
I'll always love you. No matter who gave birth to me, you'll always be my number
heart melt.
know, sweetheart. And I promise you whenever you need me, I'll always
lying, okay? If you lie, your nose will get
help but laugh, her irritation slowly
pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll never
breathing was her
was winter break, so Irwin didn't
day, Briony's studio took on another restoration job-high pay, but a
days, Irwin spent most of his time at the studio with Briony.
along, Irwin was well-known and well-loved around the
her restoration work. She stepped out of
[Are you working
[Yep! Why,
name down for an
[?? What's going
days
[Ten days late?! Girl, have you not heard of a pregnancy
she'd bought and forgotten at
sigh, typing: [I bought
[Unbelievable! Only you could forget something like that. Let me guess- you pulled another all-nighter? Briony, I swear, if you ever drop dead in
[Okay, okay. I
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