Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 2

"I was just worried that things would get chaotic when Leo goes up on stage later. There are so many guests today, Wren. I'm only thinking about the Langford family's image."

The Langford family's image.

Those words again.

Wren had heard them far too many times.

When she was struggling through a difficult pregnancy and Lawrence was away on a business trip, the Langfords told her to stop making a fuss—to maintain the family's image.

When she spiked a fever postpartum and Lawrence didn't come home because of a meeting, Eleanor told her to be understanding, claiming a man's career came first and she shouldn't make a scene for outsiders to laugh at.

She had swallowed her grievances time and time again, constantly telling herself that marriage required compromise.

But after all that compromising, she felt like a stone whose edges had been entirely worn away, unable to even cry out in pain.

"Mom!"

Leo had finally spotted her.

He ran down from the edge of the stage, the bright smile still plastered across his face. Wren's heart softened, and she instinctively knelt, opening her arms to pull him into a hug.

But when Leo reached her, he didn't throw himself into her embrace.

He only glanced at the gift box she had taken back, asking curiously, "What's that?"

"Your birthday present," Wren said. "I made you a planet model, it has your favorite—"

"But Willow already gave me a rocket base," Leo interrupted, his eyes sparkling. "It even goes up and down by itself. It's way cooler than a model."

The rest of Wren's words died in her throat.

Leo turned around and waved at Willow. "Willow, come here!"

Willow approached with a gentle smile, bending down to affectionately ruffle Leo's hair. "What is it?"

"Didn't you say you were going to help me cut the cake later?" Leo grabbed her hand. "Don't go too far away."

Willow shot a hesitant glance at Wren. "But your mom is here now. Of course she should be the one to help you cut the cake."

Leo frowned.

"But you planned the whole thing. Mom doesn't even know how I want to do it."

Kids said whatever came to their minds.

But sometimes, innocent words cut deeper than the sharpest knife.

Watching her son hold Willow's hand, Wren suddenly found the lights in the banquet hall blinding.

She remembered staying up until two in the morning the night before, carefully installing the final micro-LED into the planet model. Terrified he wouldn't like it, she had even engraved his name on the base.

Leo.

When she named him, she hoped he would have a vast, free universe all his own.

But now, it seemed he no longer needed her in his universe.

"Leo."

A deep male voice called out from ahead.

Lawrence walked over.

He was tall and imposing in his perfectly tailored suit, his features carrying the natural, aloof authority of a man accustomed to power. He glanced first at Leo, then shifted his gaze to Wren.

"Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

Wren met his eyes. "I texted you yesterday."

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