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.

color. Her usually bright, clear eyes were now clouded, as if a heavy mist had settled over them, snuffing out their light

always so in control, felt a wave

[Why is Mommy crying?]

was now flushed and defiant, she suddenly saw him as he'd been at two

he'd clumsily, yet so tenderly, wiped away

mother in prison. She'd seen the bruises on her mother's face and realized, for the first time, just how much her mother was suffering behind

the whole

couch with Irwin and pretending to

Irwin had noticed. He'd scrambled onto her lap, chubby arms wrapped around her neck, his soft cheek pressing against hers. “Don't be sad,

made Briony's nose sting. She'd burst into tears again, unable to

his chubby little hands, mumbling over and over, "Don't cry, Mommy. Don't cry...

repeated the comforting things she usually said to him. The more anxious he got, the more his

had been completely broken. She'd clung

hadn't let up. They ruined her reputation at university, schemed against her in every way they could. She'd

she could do

hurt, little Irwin started crying too, blowing on her

Mommy hurts, Irwin