Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 242

Wren ignored him, simply leading Leo to his seat.

Lawrence hadn't apologized last night.

And he didn't apologize this morning.

It was as if he had shoved that moment into a drawer; as long as he didn't open it, he could pretend it never happened.

"I'll drop Leo off today," he said.

Wren poured Leo some milk, her voice calm. "Fine. I'll pick him up after school."

Lawrence frowned. "I can pick him up too."

"You have a meeting with The NMDA at three-thirty."

Lawrence looked at her.

Wren didn't bother explaining how she knew.

His schedule was never a secret. In the past, she had memorized it even better than his secretary, but now she no longer reminded him of anything.

Lawrence's expression darkened. "I can reschedule."

"If you're absolutely sure you can make it, let Ms. Miller know in advance." Wren pushed the glass of milk toward Leo. "If you aren't sure, don't make him wait."

Leo gripped his glass, his eyes darting back and forth between them.

Lawrence noticed.

He swallowed his displeasure. "I know."

Eleanor Langford came downstairs right at that moment.

She had heard the commotion in the hallway last night and stewed over it until morning. Seeing Wren come from the direction of the East Wing Guest Suite, her irritation was practically written all over her face.

"There's no such thing as holding grudges overnight between a married couple." Eleanor took her seat, her tone sounding like advice, though every word was laced with venom. "You're back home, yet you're sleeping in separate rooms every night. What is the child going to think when he sees this?"

Leo's hand trembled, spilling a few drops of milk.

Wren grabbed a napkin to wipe the table for him.

"Mrs. Langford." She didn't look up. "The child is here."

Eleanor scoffed. "I'm reminding you exactly because the child is here. Stop using him as a shield. The reason Leo has turned out like this is because you keep throwing tantrums, isn't it?"

Leo lowered his head.

He slowly set down his glass, his voice barely a whisper. "Grandma, don't say bad things about Mom."

Eleanor froze.

This was probably the first time Leo had ever spoken up for Wren right to her face.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the boy looked terrified.

He immediately looked at Lawrence, then at Wren, as if waiting for someone to scold him.

Wren's chest ached fiercely.

She reached out and held Leo's hand. "Leo, it's okay. You're allowed to speak."

Eleanor looked appalled. "Look at this. Just look at how she's raising the boy. Leo used to be so well-behaved, and now he's talking back."

Leo's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He hadn't meant to talk back.

He just couldn't stand listening to it anymore.

Yet one accusation of "talking back" from an adult was enough to crush the courage he had fought so hard to muster.