Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 254

Lawrence felt a wave of exhaustion.

In the past, whenever he mentioned a social event, Wren would immediately ask for the time, location, dress code, and which key figures she needed to pay attention to. She would prepare everything flawlessly, never once making him stress over the details.

Now, every time he made a simple request, it felt like he had to survive an interrogation first.

"Wren," he kept his voice suppressed. "I'm not asking you to go back to how things were. It's just attending one event together."

"Your 'just this once' always turns into a million more times."

"Not this time."

She stared at him, offering no reply.

Her piercing gaze made Lawrence feel incredibly agitated.

Because deep down, he knew his promise held zero weight.

He had said "just this once" far too many times before.

Just have dinner with Willow this once.

Just make an appearance for the project this once.

Just bite your tongue and don't humiliate my mother this once.

Just do it for the family's dignity.

Just do it for our son.

It was "just this once," time and time again, that had ultimately pushed her to this breaking point.

Wren finally looked away. "I'll think about it."

Lawrence frowned. "I need a definite answer."

"Then take it as a no."

He was completely at a loss for words.

She had become an expert at shutting him down.

No screaming, no crying—just a clean, absolute eradication of any room for negotiation.

From the hallway, Leo called out softly.

"Mom, I'm done washing my hands."

Wren picked up the picture book and headed for the door.

As she passed Lawrence, she paused.

"If you truly think this event is that important, then state your real reasons. Don't use our son, and don't use your grandmother."

With that, she walked out of the Guest Suite.

Lawrence stood rooted to the spot, his expression freezing over.

But he didn't follow her out.

Later that night, Wren received a call from the nursing home.

It was Margaret's caretaker.

After hanging up, Wren stood in the hallway for a long time.

She didn't want to go.

She knew exactly what kind of charade an event like that was.

The glaring lights, the cameras, the superficial small talk, the deeply loaded stares of acquaintances, and the endless chorus of "Mrs. Langford."

Nobody would ask her which bedroom she had slept in for the past week. Nobody would ask why she had filed for divorce. Nobody would care about what Lawrence had done.

They would only see her standing by Lawrence's side.

And from that, they would draw the easiest conclusion possible: No matter how much a couple fights, they always end up back together in the end.

But Margaret was right.

If she had to step out onto that stage, she couldn't just be paraded around as Lawrence's trophy.

She needed to know exactly why she was standing there.

The next day, Wren went to the Stellaris office.

Noticing she looked off, Phoebe pulled her into the pantry during their lunch break.

"What kind of mess is the Langford family in now?"

Wren explained the situation with the charity gala.

Phoebe let out a cold scoff instantly. "He wants to use you as a pretty prop for their rehab project?"

"It's probably more than just the rehab project," Wren said, holding her water glass. "The Thorne Trust and the Xander Foundation are both engaging with Stellaris. Langford Medical needs to send a signal. At the very least, they need to convince the public that their internal affairs haven't devolved into total chaos."