Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 188

It was a feeble grip.

"On the day of the mediation, don't be afraid."

Wren nodded.

Out in the waiting area, Leo sat quietly. Mr. Lawson had bought him a carton of milk.

He hadn't touched it; instead, his tiny fingers compulsively picked at the plastic wrapper around the straw.

When Wren walked over, he jumped to his feet immediately.

"Mom, I didn't want to come here."

"I know."

The boy's eyes welled up with fresh tears.

"Eleanor said Great-Grandmother got sick because you want a divorce."

Wren dropped to her knees in front of him.

"That's not true."

"Really?"

"Really."

Leo stared at her, still struggling to believe it completely.

Wren punctured the milk carton with the straw and handed it to him.

"Doctors take care of the sick. Adults handle their own marriages. You don't have to pick a side."

Leo clutched the carton, taking a tiny sip before stopping.

"So, can I go back to school this afternoon?"

"Yes," Wren promised. "I'll take you back."

Eleanor emerged from the parlor just in time to hear her.

"What do you mean back to school? With everything happening today, he's still going to class?"

Wren took Leo's hand.

"He wants to go."

Eleanor let out an incredulous laugh. "Oh, so now you care about what the child wants?"

Wren met her gaze.

This time, she didn't argue.

She just pulled out her phone and dialed Lawrence's number.

He answered almost immediately.

"What is it?"

"Your mother pulled Leo out of school at noon, dragged him to Southpoint Manor, and told him that Margaret's illness is caused by our divorce—right to his face."

The line went dead silent.

Eleanor's face twisted in horror, and she lunged to grab the phone.

Wren took a neat half-step back.

"You can ask her right now, or you can verify it with Ms. Miller and the manor staff."

Lawrence's voice dropped to a terrifying register. "Put my mother on the phone."

Wren handed the phone over.

Eleanor snatched it, looking thoroughly reluctant. "Lawrence, don't just listen to her side of the story, I simply—"

Whatever Lawrence said on the other end remained a mystery.

But Eleanor's excuse died in her throat.

Her face flashed from stark white to a sickly pale green.

Finally, she shoved the phone back into Wren's hand and stormed out the exit without a backward glance.

Willow hurried after her.

As she reached the door, she cast a brief glance back at Leo.

The little boy shrank behind Wren's legs.

Willow's footsteps faltered for a second before she disappeared out the door.

That afternoon, Wren brought Leo back to school.

Ms. Miller was waiting in her office for them.

Just before Leo stepped back into his classroom, he tugged at Wren's sleeve.

"Mom."

"Hmm?"

"In the car earlier... I wanted to call Dad."

Lawrence choked on his next breath.

He instantly realized he had used the wrong word.

But the damage was done.

Wren held his gaze for a few agonizing seconds, then thrust her document folder toward Mr. Lawson.

"Mr. Lawson, please add today's incident to the file."

Mr. Lawson took it seamlessly. "Understood."

Lawrence's expression blackened. "Wren."

She refused to look at him.

"Every single thing you people do, I will put on record."

Lawrence reached out, as if to grab her arm.

Wren took a single step back. It was a minuscule movement.

But it spoke louder than any threat.

Lawrence's hand hovered in mid-air.

The school gates were crowded with parents, students, and security guards. His hand hung suspended for two long seconds before he finally dropped it back to his side.

Just as Wren opened her car door, she heard him demand, "Are you truly determined to burn everything to the ground?"

She pulled the door wide.

"I'm not the one holding the match."

The heavy door slammed shut, cutting off the rest of the conversation.

Lawrence stood rooted to the pavement, watching the car speed away.

His phone vibrated.

It was Xavier.

[Mr. Langford, the court mediation is confirmed for 9:00 AM the day after tomorrow. Miss Whitaker has already filed supplementary evidence, detailing today's incident at the school and Southpoint Manor.]

Lawrence finished reading and violently hurled his phone onto the passenger seat.

The day after tomorrow.

Wren was methodically hauling every old grievance, every horrifying detail, every dirty secret he had assumed could be swept under the rug, directly into the spotlight.

Only today did he fully realize the sheer volume of evidence she possessed. The table was already full.