Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"I hate you!"

Irwin hurled the rest of his bedtime stories to the floor and stomped on them, his voice trembling with fury. "You're a liar! You don't want me, well, I don't want you either! I don't want any of this!"

"Irwin!"

Stewart grabbed Irwin's arm, his handsome face darkening with anger. "Say one more word like that and you'll be sorry!"

Irwin struggled with all his might, but he was no match for his father's strength.

Blinded by rage, Irwin couldn't see the storm brewing in his father's eyes. All he wanted was to let out every ounce of hurt and frustration bottled up inside him—

"I just hate her!" Irwin jutted out his chin, his tear-stained eyes glaring stubbornly at Stewart. "You said it yourself-she's not really my mom, right? So if she isn't my mom, why should I have to like her? I hate her! I hate that she lied to me!"

Stewart froze.

That one sentence-"You said she's not really my mom!"-hit him like a slap in the face.

He let go of Irwin and turned to look at Briony.

Briony stood rooted to the spot, silent and pale as a ghost.

at Irwin, her delicate face drained of all color. Her usually bright, clear eyes were now clouded, as if

felt a wave of unease

[Why is Mommy crying?]

Irwin, who was now flushed and defiant, she suddenly

yet

mother's face and realized, for the first time,

the whole way

Irwin and pretending to read to

her lap, chubby arms wrapped around her neck,

She'd burst into tears again,

hands, mumbling over and over, "Don't cry, Mommy. Don't cry... Irwin's here, Irwin

learned to talk, his words still limited, so he repeated the comforting things she usually said to him. The more anxious he got, the more his words tumbled out in a jumble-awkward, but

been completely broken. She'd clung to

prison, the Kensingtons hadn't let up. They ruined her reputation at university, schemed against her in every way they could. She'd endured it all, no matter how bitter or difficult-but knowing her mother was being bullied

no power, no connections. All she could do

said it hurt, little Irwin started crying too, blowing on her with his tiny lips, trying to 'make it

hurts, Irwin