Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 834

Kerri's voice was laced with an unmistakable hint of despair, her usual spark dimmed by the recent clash with Brayden. Agnes sighed inwardly. "Let's go grab some dinner."

"Where's Sprague?"

"He's at the diner with Nocturne."

Together, Kerri and Agnes made their way to the local diner.

Upon seeing his mom, Sprague rushed over, latching onto Kerri's hand and refusing to leave her side.

The six of them gathered around the diner's table for a lively meal, though it was clear Kerri had lost her appetite.

Sensing her disquiet, the ever-thoughtful Sprague forked a slice of steak onto her plate. "Mom, you really should eat more, you've gotten so thin."

Kerri's heart ached at her son's concern.

Across the table, Brayden was a shadow of his former self, his face etched with defeat, his presence silent and disengaged as he drowned his sorrows in glass after glass of wine.

Agnes tried her best to lighten the mood, but it was as if she was the only one talking. Eventually, she exchanged a knowing glance with Jared and fell silent.

Jared kept his cool, thankfully, and the kids brought a bit of life to the table. Sprague, elated to be with his mom, peppered her with questions about when they'd go home. "Boy, we're going home tonight, okay?"

The color in Brayden's eyes shifted at Kerri's affirmation, his face twisting into a cold smirk. "Kerri, don't delude yourself. Sprague is mine, and you're not taking him anywhere." Kerri's patience had worn thin. "Brayden, don't think I'm unaware of the dirty tricks you used to get custody. Go ahead and sue me, I don't care, but you're not taking my son from me." The confrontation between the two was palpable, a clash of wills that even Sprague could understand.

"I want to be with my mom," Sprague declared defiantly. "I don't care what the judge says. If my mom isn't with me, I won't eat. I'd rather starve."

Brayden fumed at the challenge but redirected his fury towards Kerri, accusing her loudly, "This is the kind of son you've raised?"

Kerri held Sprague close, her voice breaking. "Brayden, you have a family, a wife, a career... but Sprague is all I have. You can't do this to me. Without my son, you can still lead a good life, but without him, I have nothing. He is my only hope."

Brayden's anger nearly sent his glass flying. "Kerri, which part of my life looks good to you? Open your eyes! Look at the mess I'm in, and it's all thanks to you. You're the one who abandoned me, heartless and cruel. And you have the audacity to ask for forgiveness? I'll never forgive you, not in this lifetime!"

The tension in the air was suffocating. Sprague, terrified, burst into tears.

Agnes hadn't expected her peacemaking efforts to escalate things this far. She quickly scooped Nocturne up from Kerri's arms, her voice gentle but firm. "Don't fight in front of the kids. It's traumatizing. I'll take them to their room."

With Sprague in her arms and Nocturne trailing behind, Agnes left the diner for the sanctuary of their room.

Still sobbing, Sprague cried out, "I don't want dad, I just want mom. I don't want to be separated from her. Dad's the bad guy."

It took a good while for Agnes to calm him down, but eventually, Sprague's tears subsided.