Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 29

After leaving the Langford Estate, Wren didn't head straight back to her apartment.

As her car drove along the river, she asked the driver to pull over for a moment.

The early autumn breeze swept off the water, carrying a crisp chill. She stood by the railing, looking down at the text Leo had just sent her.

[Mom, are you at the office?]

It was followed by a timid, peek-a-boo emoji.

Wren stared at it for a long time before replying.

[Not yet. I'm on my way.]

Leo quickly sent another message.

[Mom, I want to eat that chicken noodle soup from the diner on the Southside on Wednesday.]

Wren's eyes prickled.

Leo had been an incredibly picky eater since he was a baby. Feeding him was always a nightmare. When he was younger, he became obsessed with the chicken noodle soup from a tiny local diner on the Southside. Wren had spent hours in the kitchen, experimenting endlessly until she perfectly replicated the taste he loved.

Whenever Leo was sick or upset, he would always ask for his mom's homemade chicken noodle soup.

But it had been months since he last brought it up.

Wren's finger hovered over the screen.

She desperately wanted to reply, *Mom will make it for you.*

But in the end, she typed:

[Okay, Mom will take you to get it.]

Not *make it for you*.

Not *come home and cook it*.

But *take you to get it*.

Leo might not understand the subtle difference.

But Wren knew exactly what it meant.

There were habits she needed to break.

She could no longer allow a simple "I want to eat this" from her child to drag her back into the Langford kitchen, slaving away for an entire afternoon just to earn a dismissive "it's okay" when he was done.

She loved Leo.

But she had to pull herself out of that bottomless ocean of sacrifice.

The car engine hummed back to life.

Wren leaned against the backseat and closed her eyes.

Lawrence's stinging words echoed relentlessly in her mind.

*Do you even know you're his mother?*

Of course she knew.

For the past six years, no one on earth knew she was Leo's mother better than she did.

She knew exactly what age he started losing his baby teeth. She knew which antibiotics gave him a rash. She knew exactly which teddy bear he needed to hold when he woke up crying in the middle of the night. She knew he secretly chewed on his blanket when he was sad.

But Lawrence didn't know any of that.

Eleanor didn't know either.

They only knew she was the mother, which meant she was supposed to be there forever.

Lawrence despised being put on the defensive.

In his reality, Wren was allowed to be angry. She was allowed to give him the silent treatment. She could even move out temporarily. But inevitably, she would return to the Langford Estate.

Because Leo was here.

And he was here.

She had loved him for so many years.

You don't just shut off love like a faucet.

Willow placed a fresh cup of tea next to his hand, her voice barely a whisper. "Lawrence, don't be too angry with Wren. The fact that she came to see Leo today proves she still can't let go of this family."

Lawrence glanced up at her.

Willow was sitting with perfect posture, her expression a flawless blend of tenderness and concern.

"I'm just worried Leo will be sad. The nights Wren isn't here, he tosses and turns. Should I... stay over for a few days to keep him company?"

Eleanor immediately agreed. "That's a wonderful idea. You've always been so attentive, Willow."

Lawrence paused. "Aren't you busy with the Philanthropy Dept project?"

A spark of triumph flashed in Willow's eyes before she quickly buried it.

"I can handle the foundation meetings during the day and come back to stay with Leo at night. Besides, I live alone anyway, so I don't have much else going on."

"Then stay here for now," Lawrence commanded. "It'll be easier for you to look after Leo."

Eleanor nodded approvingly. "This should have happened ages ago. Having Willow at home makes Leo so happy."

Willow looked down, feigning shyness. "Would that be inappropriate? If Wren finds out, she might misunderstand again."

Lawrence's brow furrowed slightly. "Misunderstand what?"