Chapter 202
Henry quickly slid into the backseat with Billy in his arms. Before I could even reach the vehicle, the driver had already pulled away, wheels spraying gravel as they sped down the driveway.
I stood frozen in place, watching in disbelief as the car disappeared around the bend.
The audacity of this man was truly unbelievable!
“FUCK YOU, HENRY HARDING!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard me. “You miserable, manipulative ASSHOLE!”
I kicked at the ground, sending pebbles flying as rage consumed me.
This wasn’t the first time he’d used Billy as a pawn in our marital chess game, but it was by far the most blatant.
Just as I was contemplating how I might murder Henry butler, in the driver’s seat.
and get
away
with it, another car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down to reveal Mark, the
“Mrs. Harding,” he said calmly, as if kidnapping children was an everyday occurrence in the Harding household. He stepped out and opened the passenger door with a formal gesture. “Shall we follow them?”
I didn’t hesitate, diving into the car with my anger still at full boil. “Drive, I commanded. “Fast.”
Mark nodded and pulled away, expertly navigating the winding country roads as we pursued Henry’s vehicle.
Inside Henry’s car, Billy had been unceremoniously deposited onto the seat next to him.
After they drove away, Henry’s face immediately reverted to its usual impassive mask, the desperate man who had asked me to come back nowhere to be
seen.
Billy fixed his father with a look of utter contempt.
“Seriously? Every time you fight with Mom, you kidnap me? Why am I always the one who gets hurt in this mess?” The little boy crossed his arms defiantly. “Keep this up, Dad, and you’ll lose me too!”
This wasn’t the first time Billy had been whisked away by his father during our arguments, and clearly, my son had reached his limit with these tactics.
Henry glanced sideways at his son with casual indifference. “All the other kids in your class are bridges between their parents,” he said coolly. “They’re holding Dad’s hand with one hand and Mom’s with the other, creating happy families. But you? You just stand there like a useless tree stump. What good are you, anyway?”
To be fair, Henry didn’t actively dislike–Billy. He even had moments of genuine affection for the boy. But lately, with my constant challenges to his authority and my push for divorce, his patience had grown thin–even with our child.
Billy wasn’t about to take this criticism lying down. “You’ve got some nerve!” he fired back. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? Other dads do everything for their moms. When Mom’s angry, Dad comforts her. When Mom needs money, Dad gives it to her. When Mom cooks, Dad helps. But you? You do NOTHING! You dump everything on Mom, and she still stayed with you for all these years! And you still have another woman in your heart!”
Henry was momentarily stunned by his son’s perceptiveness.
What Henry didn’t know was that earlier during the barbecue, while
was busy preparing food, William had pulled Billy aside for a private convers…..
“If your father keeps messing up and doesn’t know how to make your mother happy,” the old man had advised, “you need to help him out. Otherwise, you’ll end up having to choose between them and become a child of a single–parent family.”
After careful consideration, Billy had decided his great–grandfather was absolutely right. If his father was too stupid to figure out how to win his mother back, then he would have to step in!
A mischievous smile spread across Billy’s face as he went for the kill. “Dad, sometimes you need to humble yourself a bit. Mom has other options waiting, you know. Like Uncle Thomas, or that handsome guy we met in Aspen. Dad, you should be worried.”
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Chapter 202
Henry was completely speechless, unable to form a coherent response. In six years of marriage, he had never done any housework, never concerned himself with whether I was happy, and never shown any interest in my background or past.
Now, reflecting on everything that had happened, he suddenly realized how little he actually knew about me.
After a moment of contemplation, he turned to his son. “What does your mom like best?”
Billy rolled his eyes dramatically. “Why should I tell you?”
Seeing his son’s reluctance, Henry’s eyes narrowed with calculation. “If you tell me, I’ll take you to the aquarium to see the beluga whales.”
Billy’s eyes lit up with excitement, but he quickly composed himself, clapping his hands together with mock concern. “Wouldn’t that be selling out my mom? My conscience would hurt so much!” He placed both hands over his heart in an exaggerated gesture, his small face beaming with self–satisfaction.
‘I’ll add a set of those Transformers toys you’ve been wanting, Henry countered.
Billy’s eyes grew even brighter, and he grinned widely. “Deal!”
As they pulled up to Maple Grove, Henry whisked Billy straight to his bedroom the moment they entered the house. “Listen, he said, crouching down to his son’s level. “When your mom gets here, she’s definitely going to fight with me. Your job is to calm your mother’s anger. Got it?”
Billy frowned, crossing his arms. “Why me? You know she’ll be angry, yet you want ME to handle it? What are YOU good for, then?” He fixed his father with a penetrating stare. “Think about this–you and Mom will be dealing with each other for a long time. Are you expecting me to put out fires every time? If that’s the case, I’ll need to charge more!”
Henry felt thoroughly outmatched by his five–year–old son.
This kid understood negotiation better than he did.
“Dad still has a lot to learn,” Henry admitted. “But this time, I need you to handle it first!”
“If you can calm her down AND convince her to stay here, I’ll throw in another set of action figures. What do you say?”
Great rewards inspire great courage.
Billy was willing to risk everything for his beloved toys. He puffed out his little chest and motioned for Henry to open the door. “Let’s go!” he declared confidently. “From now on, follow my lead and watch for my signals!”
The father–son duo emerged from the bedroom and waited by the front entrance. As soon as I stepped out of Mark’s car, Billy ran forward with the most ingratiating smile I’d ever seen.
“Mommy!” he called out sweetly.
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