Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 38

She stayed on the phone for a long time, coaxing Leo until he finally grew sleepy and she hung up.

The moment the call ended, Lawrence's number flashed across the screen again.

This time, Wren answered.

"Wren."

The man's voice was ice-cold, barely suppressing a simmering rage.

"You won't even answer your own son's calls?"

Wren clutched the phone, her eyes fluttering shut in exhaustion.

"I was in the shower. I've already called him back."

Lawrence let out a cold scoff. "You certainly have a lot of excuses now."

Wren opened her eyes.

"What do you want to say?"

"Come back tomorrow and spend time with Leo."

"I have work tomorrow."

Lawrence's tone grew even colder. "What work is more important than your son?"

The words pierced straight into Wren's heart like a needle.

A wave of sheer exhaustion washed over her.

Lawrence was always so capable of dragging her onto the executioner's block with absolute ease.

The second she didn't show up exactly how they demanded, she was instantly labeled a bad mother.

Yet Lawrence himself had been absent countess times.

He had never once faced this kind of judgment.

"Lawrence." Wren's voice was incredibly light. "Why can't you spend time with him tomorrow?"

The line went dead silent for a moment.

"I am his father."

"So why can't you spend time with him?"

Lawrence frowned. "That is completely different."

"Why is it different?" Wren asked. "You have work, and I have work. Why is it an unquestionable right for you to be busy, but the moment I am busy, it means I don't love my child?"

Lawrence was caught completely off guard by the question.

Wren continued, "When Leo has a nightmare, you can sleep next to him. You can read him a book. You can get off work early tomorrow and take him out somewhere. You are his father. Try acting like one, instead of only remembering the title when you want to criticize me."

Lawrence's face turned livid.

"Wren, are you seriously trying to teach me how to be a father right now?"

"If you don't know how, yes."

A deafening silence swallowed the other end of the line.

After Wren finished speaking, she too fell quiet.

In the past, she would never have spoken to him like this.

She had been terrified of wounding Lawrence's pride, terrified he would think she was being overbearing.

But suddenly, she wasn't afraid anymore.

Willow raised a hand and knocked on the door.

"Lawrence, Leo is asleep."

Lawrence didn't turn around, simply stating coldly, "I know."

Willow stepped inside and placed a glass of warm water on his desk.

"Don't be too angry with Wren. She's probably just under a lot of stress from work lately."

Lawrence remained silent.

Willow said softly, "I don't have any major plans tomorrow. I can stay and keep Leo company all day."

"No need," Lawrence said suddenly.

Willow froze.

Lawrence picked up his phone and called Xavier.

"Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon."

Willow's face shifted slightly.

Lawrence ended the call, his voice entirely detached.

"I'm spending the day with Leo."

Standing rooted to the spot, a genuine flare of panic ignited in Willow's chest for the first time.

Wren hadn't even returned.

Yet with just a few words, she had already forced Lawrence to change his ways.

This terrified Willow far more than if Wren had come back to fight her face-to-face.