Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 832

Brayden was like a storm cloud hanging low, the air around him thick with tension.

Across the room, Sprague had already flung himself into Kerri's arms.

Tears streamed down Sprague's face as he sobbed, "Mom, where did you go? Did you not want me anymore?"

Holding Sprague close, Kerri couldn't hold back her own tears. "How could I ever not want you? How could you even think that?"

Agnes made her way upstairs, her heart aching for Kerri and her son, but she knew she had to intervene. "Sprague, Nocturne is in his room. Why don't you go play with him for a bit? Your mom and dad need to talk."

Sprague, mature beyond his years, glanced back at Brayden, who was approaching, and issued a stern warning. "I won't let you bully my mom. If you do, I won't eat, and although you might want to call me your son, I sure don't want to call you dad."

With a defiant huff, Sprague marched upstairs.

Agnes, feeling a bit awkward standing there, couldn't help but think Brayden's son was quite the little powerhouse. Knowing she wasn't needed, she decided to leave the two to their conversation.

"I'm going to get things ready in the dining room. You two come down for the meal when you're ready," Agnes said before walking away.

Now alone in the hallway, Kerri stood atop the staircase, only three steps above Brayden. Despite his height, he had to look up to meet her eyes.

Kerri hadn't changed much over the years; just a bit more svelte, the soft roundness of her cheeks from before had disappeared. She had been on the run, constantly changing locations, and he had never given up looking for her.

Now, however, he realized that she had never truly cared for him. Even during their most intimate moments, she was only biding her time, using him for Baldrick's sake. The only kindness she may have shown him was leaving their child behind. But even with a child, her heart belonged only to Baldrick.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes last time...

The thought alone made Brayden tense, his blood boiling, his chest aflame with a rage ready to burst.

One hand was jammed in his coat pocket, fingers clenched tight, but his expression was a mask of icy detachment.

"Sprague is non-negotiable. No, his name is now Sprague Simonds," Brayden began coolly. "Kerri, in consideration of you bearing my son, I don't want to make a scene. Don't try to pull any stunts like you did last time. I fell for it once, but it won't happen again."

"Brayden, you can't do this. You stole Sprague's custody with your vile tricks. You've denied me even the right to visit him. You're a devil."

"Vile?" Brayden's voice was laced with scorn. "Kerri, ask yourself if what I've done comes even close to a tenth of your own actions. How did you treat me back then? You left with another man when I needed you most. You betrayed me first, set me up, almost had me jailed. If I weren't so damn lucky, I'd be rotting in a cell. And now, after all that, you have the nerve to come back and blame on me?"

The past grievances, one after another, had always seemed like a misunderstanding to Brayden. He had never wanted to believe that Kerri would make that choice.