Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Briony drew a deep breath, doing her best to keep her composure.
She turned to Rosita. “Ms. Lockwood, are you really Irwin’s biological mother?“–
Rosita met Briony’s gaze, her smile gentle and warm. “Five years ago, because of work and a company contract, I had no choice but to keep my relationship with Irwin a secret.”
Briony’s breath caught. “Irwin’s father…”
“Irwin is Stewart’s and my child,” Rosita replied softly.
Her words, gentle as they sounded, plunged into Briony’s heart like a dagger.
Briony froze, a suffocating pain tightening her chest and draining all color from her face.
So, all this time–the child she had raised and loved as her own for five years–was actually Stewart and
Rosita’s son.
Which meant Stewart had been deceiving her from the very beginning.
He hadn’t cheated after their wedding; rather, he’d been playing her for a fool right from the start.
“Ms. Kensington, I’m truly sorry for keeping this from you for so long. I actually advised Stewart to be honest with you from the beginning, but he thought it would be best if as few people as possible knew the truth.”
Rosita’s every word echoed in Briony’s mind like a relentless curse.
To Stewart, she was just an outsider.
She’d thought that after five years of living together, raising a child side by side–even if there was no romantic love between them–they at least trusted each other like family.
She had no idea that, all along, the man she shared her life with had only ever kept her at arm’s length.
She couldn’t make sense of it. Why would Stewart lie to her? If he’d only told her the truth from the start, she never would have let herself fall so far…
“Ms. Kensington, these past five years have been hard on you. Stewart and I are both grateful for everything you’ve done for Irwin.”
Looking at Briony, Rosita added, “You’ve raised Irwin so well. As his biological mother, I truly thank you.”
Briony stared back at her, lips pressed tightly together and face eerily calm, though her arm around Irwin trembled ever so slightly.
“That’s not true! You’re lying! I only have one mother–and I want my real mom!” Irwin shouted at Rosita, his small face twisted in anger. “You’re a bad woman! You have no right to call yourself my mom! I don’t want
you!”
Rosita was stunned, her hand flying to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. The hurt and restraint in her expression made her look heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Fiona’s face darkened at once. She stood and snapped at Briony, “Is this how you raise a child? Where’s his respect?”
Briony’s mind was reeling, leaving her no energy to argue with Fiona. Still, for Irwin’s sake, she managed, “He’s just a child. You have to give him time to process all of this.”
“Hmph. You think I don’t see what you’re up to?” Fiona sneered. “Briony, we’re both women. Don’t think your little schemes are lost on me.”
“Galen!”
The butler hurried over. “Yes, ma’am?”
15-10
Chapter
“Take the boy. I won’t have the Wentworth family’s blood manipulated by a woman with ulterior motives!”
Galen hesitated, but at Fiona’s glare, he stepped forward and pulled Irwin from Briony’s arms.
“No! Let me go! Mom, I want to go home with you-!”
Briony’s brow creased, her heart aching at Irwin’s desperate sobs.
“Irwin has asthma. Can’t you see you’re making it worse with all this pressure?”
At that, Fiona paused, uncertainty flickering across her face.
Rosita stood and hurried to Fiona’s side, clutching her arm, her voice choked with tears. “Aunt Fiona, please, let Galen release Irwin. I’m the one at fault–I failed as a mother. If Irwin doesn’t accept me, I deserve it.”
Fiona sighed, worry etched in her features. She gestured for Galen to let Irwin go.
Galen released him.
“Mom!” Irwin wailed, rushing back to Briony and nearly knocking her off–balance as he flung himself into her
arms.
His momentum made him bump into her stomach, and Briony paled further as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
“Mom, Grandma’s lying, right? You’re my mom! I don’t want anyone else–I just want you!”
Irwin was sobbing so hard his little body shook.
Briony stroked his hair, her heart breaking for him.
