#Chapter 17: Breaking Point

Alexander It was hard to focus on Sophia with the low hum of tension filling the air from the two little bodies next to me. My eyes slithered to them, like two puffed up puppies as soon as Sphia appeared. I almost smirked. They had the same furrowed face. “What bring you here, love,” I said, trying to hide my suspicion. “Oh please,” she hummed, “I couldn’t live with myself with things so tense between my baby and I!” Sophia’s smile was too wide, too rehearsed, as she pulled a wrapped gift out of her purse and held it infron of Owen. I could already feel my jaw tightening, but I kept it in check. Sophia’s voice pet the air, her eyes on my boy. “Mommy knows she was wrong to tear up your drawing. I’ve bought you a present to apologize,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet as she offered the gift to Owen, expecting him to just fall in line. But Owen just stared at the gift, his eyes blank. He didn’t want it. He didn’t need it. His gaze shifted toward me, and for a moment, I saw