Chapter 128

Brian's POV

I stood at the school gate, watching Lucy and Penny run toward Annie.They were holding hands and laughing. I felt a knot in my stomach.Lucy used to be so quiet before Annie came into her life. Now she was always smiling.

"Annie, I missed you so much!" Lucy shouted, her voice sounding really happy.

Annie bent down and hugged Lucy tight. Icould see Lucy's face over Annie's shoulder. She had that secret little smile kids get when they feel safe and loved.

Penny ran to her mom Sue at the same time. "Mommy! Guess what we did today?" she said excitedly, tellingher about some art thing they made.

My chest hurt watching them. I wasn't sure if I was jealous or just sad.When was the last time I felt that happy to see someone pick me up? I couldn't remember. Not since Mom and I lived together, that's for sure.

Howard walked up to Lucy and Penny. He looked less scary when he bent down to talk to them.

"Didn't you two want to know how toy airplanes fly?" he asked in a nice voice. "I've invited an engineer to come to our house and explain it to you."

Lucy looked super excited. Penny started jumping up and down.

Howard looked at Sue. "Penny can come too, if that's okay."

"Can I. Mom? Please?" Penny begged, putting her hands together like she was praying.

Sue smiled. "Of course. Just say thank you to Mr. Thompson."

"Thank you, Mr. Thompson!" Penny said quickly before turning to Lucy."

We're going to learn about airplanes!"

"This is going to be awesome!" Lucy shouted happily.

I watched Annie help Lucy into their fancy car. I could hear them laughing. Lucy was leaning against Annie like she completely trusted her.

Penny's only known Lucy for what, a couple months? And they're already like family.

That thought hurt more than I expected. I felt a lump in my throat. If Dad hadn't made me meet Sarah, maybe I'd be living with Mom at Howard's house by now. Maybe Lucy would be like my little sister instead of someone I just watch from far away.

I felt really left out. They all looked so happy together. Like a real family.

I climbed into my own car where Mitchell waited patiently behind the wheel.

"Can we follow them?" I asked,trying to sound casual.

Mitchell turned in his seat, his expression gentle but firm. "Your grandmother has probably prepared dinner and is waiting for you to come home."

I considered arguing but then nodded reluctantly. Mitchell was right.Grandma Ruth had been cooking all my favorite foods lately, trying so

.hard to make me feel at home. The least I could do was show up on time.

"Okay," I agreed. "Let's go home."

Mitchell smiled and was about to start the engine when someone knocked on my window. I turned, expecting to see maybe Ms. Taylor or one of my classmates.

Instead, I found myself staring into the face of my father.

I felt really angry seeing him there. I hadn't seen him in weeks. I missed him, just a bit. Then I told myself to stay calm. He was still my father,after all. Maybe I was being too hard on him.

I pressed the button to lower my window. "Yes?" I asked, trying to keep my voice normal. "Do you need something?"

Dad looked different somehow-tired, maybe, or stressed. For a moment,I felt a little sorry for him. Maybe I'm being too hard on him, I thought.Adults have problems too.

"Your grandmother came to see me," he began, running a hand through his carefully styled hair. "She wanted me to record a video stating that I was cutting ties with you."

"Oh?" I replied, my heart suddenly racing. Was he finally letting me go?Would I be free of this painful back-and-forth?

"I recorded it," he continued, his tone suggesting he'd done something

incredibly generous. "But you're my biological son, Brian. How could I

possibly abandon you? She's trying to destroy our father-sonrelationship!"

My brief moment of understanding broke instantly. How could he say that?After everything he'd done-leaving Mom, choosing Sarah over us,

ignoring me for months-how could he act like Grandma Ruth was the bad person?

I couldn't hold back anymore. "But you already abandoned me before Grandma came to see you, didn't you?"

His expression hardened. "That's not true. I've always taken care of you."

"Dad," I said, the word feeling strange in my mouth, "do I need to remind you how you treated me after you divorced mom?"

Something that looked like guilt crossed his face before he got annoyed."You're too young to understand grown-up stuff."

But I did understand. I understood more than he thought. Grandma had told me how Mom had helped him when he was starting his company,how she'd believed in him when nobody else did. But to him, she was just a housewife who didn't matter. And when Sarah came back, he threw her away like she was nothing.

"When Sarah bullied me, I told you about it," I said, my voice flat and emotionless. "But you said it was my problem and got mad at me instead."

Dad's face flushed. "That's not what happened-"

"Grandma Betty likes the baby in Sarah's belly more than me," I continued,cutting him off. "You do too. You always take his side."

"Brian,that's-"

"You said you wouldn't give me another cent," I reminded him. "Those were your exact words."

His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

.

"When you said that. I felt like my brain just... stopped working,"I admitted. "But now I accept that we're not father and son anymore."

I looked straight into his eyes. "Grandma didn't come to destroy our relationship. She just wanted evidence. You can't destroy something that doesn't exist anymore."

Dad's expression darkened. "The money from your mother may cover for your basic needs, but who pays for Mitchell?" he asked, gesturing toward the driver. "If you're really cutting ties with me, then I won't be paying his salary anymore."

I smiled slightly. "The money you paid him last month? I already had him return it to you. Didn't you receive it?"

Dad pulled out his phone, frantically checking something. His eyes widened as he apparently found the transaction record showing Mitchell's salary had indeed been refunded. He looked up at me, genuinely shocked.

I felt calm watching him be so surprised. A few months ago, I would have been scared of losing Mitchell and would have begged Dad not to take him away. But not after he had recorded that video.

"Is there anything else?" I asked politely. "Grandma made dinner, and she's waiting for me."

Dad seemed to struggle for words. "Brian... I'm still your biological father...

"No," I replied, my voice quiet but firm. "You're Max's dad. You're Sarah's husband. You're not mine."

I turned to Mitchell. "Let's go home."

As the car pulled away. I saw Dad in the side mirror, standing alone on the sidewalk. For a moment. I felt a little sad. But then I remembered Mom's face, and Lucy's kindness, and Grandma Ruth's warm hugs.

No.I want my Mom back!