Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 317

When Wren returned to the Langford estate, the sun hadn't entirely set.

The main lights in the living room were off, and the fading daylight slanted through the windows, casting a glow over The Developmental Progress Report resting on the coffee table. The pages had clearly been flipped through, their edges slightly curled.

Eleanor sat rigidly on the sofa, her face a storm of fury.

Lawrence stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows with his back to the door. A cigarette was pinched between his fingers, unlit.

Wren changed her shoes and set her bag down.

Eleanor fired the first shot. "You're home rather early tonight."

Wren ignored her entirely.

She looked toward the staircase. "Where's Leo?"

"In his room."

Eleanor scoffed. "What, are you planning to snatch him the moment you walk through the door? You get one piece of paper from a school, and suddenly you can't wait to play the martyr?"

Lawrence turned around.

His gaze locked onto Wren, heavy and dark.

"We need to talk."

"We can talk," Wren said evenly. "But I need to see Leo first."

Eleanor shot up from the sofa. "You all treat the report like an imperial decree. What do school teachers know? How can a few pages from an outsider let you take the child from the Langford family?"

Wren finally shifted her eyes to Eleanor.

"The report details the child's psychological distress."

"He was perfectly fine here!" Eleanor's voice grew shrill. "You are the one causing scenes, you are the one terrorizing him!"

Wren didn't argue.

She had fought this battle too many times. She knew by now that logic would never penetrate Eleanor's delusions.

Small, hesitant footsteps sounded from the second floor.

Hugging his teddy bear picture book, Leo stood by the banister.

He had definitely heard that last sentence.

Wren felt a sharp ache in her chest.

She reached out her hand toward him. "Leo, come downstairs."

Leo slowly descended the stairs.

He didn't run.

He took it one careful step at a time, his wide eyes darting between the adults before finally locking onto Wren.

"Mom, you said we were going to talk tonight."

"Yes."

Wren crouched down and gently adjusted the collar of his pajamas.

"We're going to talk upstairs."

Eleanor immediately snapped, "Whatever needs to be said can be said right here! He belongs to this family."

Leo instantly grabbed a fistful of Wren's sleeve.

Wren shielded the boy with her body. "Because he is a child, he shouldn't have to stand here and listen to you scream."

Lawrence stepped forward. "I'm coming up too."

Wren looked at him.

"Fine," she said. "The door stays open."

Lawrence's jaw clenched.

Those words dragged the invisible boundary from last night right back to the forefront.

He crouched down so he was at eye level with his son.

"I will."

Leo didn't smile.

He studied Lawrence's face for a long time before asking in a tiny voice, "What if you're really busy?"

Lawrence fell silent.

This time, he didn't offer a polished, empty promise.

"Then I will tell you beforehand."

Leo nodded.

He turned back to Wren. "Mom, will Grandmother be angry?"

"Yes."

The light in the boy's eyes dimmed slightly.

Wren gently squeezed his hand. "But Grandmother's feelings are her responsibility. Dad's feelings are Dad's responsibility. And Mom's decisions are Mom's responsibility to handle."

Leo absorbed her words, slowly uncurling his small fingers and placing his hand fully into hers.

"Then can I go with you?"

"You can."

Tears immediately spilled over his lashes.

He threw himself into Wren's arms, clinging to her with all his might.

"I want to go with Mom."

It wasn't a loud declaration.

But echoing through the quiet room, it drained every last drop of color from Lawrence's face as he stood frozen in the doorway.