Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony returned to her office to grab her coat and bag, ready to head to the hotel with her colleagues.

"Mom!"

Irwin's voice rang out from the hallway.

She paused, then stepped outside just in time to see Irwin hurrying toward her.

But before he could reach her, James intercepted him.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing here again?" James caught Irwin by the back of his collar. "Who brought you this time?"

"Dad dropped me off," Irwin replied.

Dangling by his collar, Irwin looked a little irritated, but he kept his composure and even greeted James politely, "Mr. Delaney, happy Lantern Festival!"

James blinked, momentarily thrown off.

What was going on? Since when was this little rascal so well-mannered?

Delaney, could you please let go? It's kind of

strangely unsettled. For all his suspicion, though, Irwin's politeness left him

an eyebrow as

to run off to work," Irwin

remembered exactly what Grandma Rosita had told him: Never mention Grandma Rosita in front of Mom. Be on your best behavior, and maybe Mom would start to love him like she used

sudden transformation left

to Briony. "Well, what

lantern Irwin

her. "Of course! Dad and I picked it out together at the

Briony froze.

lantern was old-fashioned, ornate-exactly her taste. Every year during the Lantern Festival, she used to make similar lanterns by

anxiously, watching her hesitate. "Don't you like it, Mom? Did I pick the wrong

Briony frowned, torn.

said quickly, withdrawing the lantern with a hopeful smile. "If you don't like this one, I can get you

lips together, sighed, and finally

"I'm