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Chapter 52
Chapter 52
“No way!” Irwin blurted out, “Mom, you’re my favorite!”
Rosita’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “Well, you’re my favorite too, Irwin. You’ll always be my one and only darling son. Don’t ever forget that–you’re the only one for me.”
Irwin basked in her affection, grinning from ear to ear. “You’re so beautiful, Mom, and you’re famous too! I’m so proud to be your son, you know?”
But then his smile faded. Thinking of Briony, he frowned and complained, “Mom Bryn is nothing like you! She’s always away on those dumb repair jobs, traveling all the time. Doesn’t even make much money or spend time with me. No wonder Grandma never liked her!”
Rosita gently stroked Irwin’s round head, her lovely features softened by that ever–present, tender smile.
At the intersection, the car rolled to a slow stop.
Their sleek black SUV ended up right beside a white Range Rover.
Through the window, Rosita caught a glimpse of Briony.
Briony was focused on driving and didn’t notice anyone watching her from the neighboring car.
The light turned green. The white Range Rover drove straight ahead, and the black SUV followed at a leisurely pace.
A few minutes later, the Range Rover pulled into the underground garage of a hotel.
The black SUV stopped by the curb outside the hotel entrance.
Inside, Irwin pressed his face to the window, watching helplessly as the white Range Rover disappeared down the ramp into the garage.
“Liar!” Tears welled up in Irwin’s eyes as he shouted, “She’s a liar! I don’t want to like her anymore!”
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Rosita’s eyes, but her expression remained as gentle as ever.
“Irwin, don’t be like that. I’m sure Mom Bryn didn’t mean to let you down…”
“She did it on purpose! I know she did!”
Irwin lost control, yelling, “I just know that ever since she divorced Dad, she doesn’t want me anymore! And who was that man in her car? Is he her new boyfriend?!”
“I… I’m not really sure.” Rosita sighed, feigning helplessness, and pulled Irwin into her embrace. “But Irwin, even if that man is Mom Bryn’s new boyfriend, you can’t be mad at her, okay?”
“But why?!” Irwin couldn’t make sense of any of it. Everything felt different now, and the secure feeling he’d had about family for the past five years suddenly seemed to vanish.
“Grown–ups always change their minds! I used to think Dad only loved you, but once you came back, all his attention went to you!”
Rosita’s hand, which had been gently rubbing Irwin’s back, paused for a moment. “Are you blaming me now, Irwin?”
“No!” Irwin hugged her tightly, scrambling to explain. “I just mean Dad changed. He only cares about you now!! was happy when he was nice to Mom Bryn, but now even Mom Bryn seems different. She used to care about me and Dad, but now… she hardly talks to Dad, and she doesn’t pay as much attention to me anymore…”
“Does that make you sad, Irwin?”
“A little…” Irwin sighed. “I mean, if Mom Bryn stops caring about me, I’ll hardly ever get to eat her cooking again!”
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Chapter 52
“I could learn to cook for you too, sweetheart.”
“But you’re a star, Mom! And you’re not in the best health–I don’t want you working too hard for me.”
He hesitated, then added, “Don’t worry. I just like the way Mom Bryn takes care of me. She learned to cook my favorite foods just for me, you know?”
Rosita’s voice turned gentle, but there was a note of warning. “But now that Mom Bryn has a new boyfriend, she’ll probably have her own children one day. When that happens, she’ll be busy raising her own family–she won’t have much time left to look after you, will she?”
Irwin froze, staring up with wide, uncertain eyes. “If she has her own kids… does that mean she won’t care about me anymore?”
Rosita gazed at his innocent, confused little face, her lips curving into a faint smile. “That’s right. For a mother, her own child–the one she carried and gave birth to–will always come first.”
