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Chapter 55
Chapter 55
The taxi rolled to a stop just outside the gates of Southcreek Manor.
Briony stepped out, her hands weighed down by two large shopping bags as she made her way up the stone path to the house.
On the way over, she’d stopped by her studio to pick up the New Year’s gifts she’d ordered online weeks ago, figuring this was as good a time as any to finally deliver them.
She pressed the doorbell,
The door swung open almost immediately.
Stewart stood there, lips pressed into a thin line. “The code hasn’t changed,” he said, voice cool and even.
Briony just nodded, gaze dropping as she stepped inside.
“Is Irwin still locked away in his room?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah,” Stewart replied, glancing at the bags in her hands. “You brought him gifts?”
“New Year’s presents,” she said, her tone flat. Without another word, she started up the stairs.
Stewart lingered in the foyer for a moment, watching her retreat, then followed after.
Upstairs, outside the children’s room.
Briony knocked gently. “Irwin, would you open the door? I brought you lots of presents.”
“I don’t want your stupid presents!” came Irwin’s furious shout from inside. “You’re a liar! You weren’t busy with work at all! Why did you lie to me?”
Briony’s brow knit together.
He’d never lashed out at her like this before.
Clearly, her little white lie about being away on business had hit him harder than she’d expected.
She let out a silent sigh and raised her hand to knock again, but footsteps creaked up behind her.
Stewart appeared, holding out a key.
Briony’s face darkened when she saw it.
“If you had the key all along, why didn’t you open the door sooner?”
Stewart just raised an eyebrow, somewhere between exasperated and amused. “If you didn’t come, unlocking the door wouldn’t change anything. What Irwin needs right now is you.”
Briony bristled, convinced Stewart was being deliberately difficult. But she didn’t have the energy to argue. She snatched the key from his hand and unlocked the door.
As soon as the door swung open, Irwin yanked his blanket over his head and curled up tighter on the bed. “Go away! I don’t want you as my mom anymore! You’re a liar! I hate you-”
Briony froze in the doorway.
I don’t want you as my mom anymore. The words hit harder than she’d expected.
Ever since she learned Irwin’s birth mother was Rosita, Briony had known, deep down, that one day he’d say something like this. She just hadn’t expected it would come so soon.
Even though she knew he was just lashing out in anger, the sting was real.
“Irwin, I’ll give you one more chance to speak properly,” came Stewart’s cold, stern voice from behind her.
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Chapter 55
Briony blinked, turning to see him.
He strode over to the bed, his expression steely. “A real man speaks his mind. If you have something to say, say it. Hiding under the covers and throwing a tantrum? That’s not how we solve things.”
Irwin fell silent.
Briony stared at Stewart, surprised.
He’d always indulged Irwin, never once raising his voice or scolding him. Who would have guessed that the same man known for his cutthroat decisiveness at work could be so gentle and accommodating with his son? But this was the first time Stewart had ever lost his temper with Irwin.
Even under the blanket, Irwin could feel his father’s anger–and the authority in his voice.
After a moment’s hesitation, Irwin slowly peeked out from beneath the covers.
No sooner had he poked out his head than Stewart’s icy voice cut through the room again: “Get out of bed and stand up. Apologize to your mother.”
Irwin froze.
His wide eyes brimmed with indignation. “But she’s the one who lied to me! Why should I be the one to apologize?”
“Did you ever bother to ask her why she lied?” Stewart shot back.
Irwin sulked, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “What’s the point? She ditched me to go on a date with her new boyfriend, obviously!”
Stewart’s jaw tightened. “Irwin, one more word of nonsense like that and you’re grounded.”
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