Although he said that, there was a flicker of panic in Keen''s eyes.


    He remembered when he''d tried to give his mother a mug as a gift-she hadn''t taken it from him for a long time. In the end, it was Marvin who stepped in and epted the present on her behalf.


    In the past, his mom would have epted a gift from him right away, then hugged him tightly, her face full of emotion and gratitude.


    Marvin spoke up. "Ms. Pearce''s violin and even the sp on her purse have this same mark. I heard her tell Mr. Wilkinson once-it''s her personal signature."


    "You''re lying!" Keen red at him, his voice sharp. "Rachel would never do something like that!"


    Marvin shot back, "So your precious Rachel isn''t like that, but Ste is?"


    He knew very well that Ste still cared about Keen. After all, she had carried him for nine months and brought him into the world-how could she not care about her own son?


    If Ste truly didn''t care, she never would have let Keene inside. Knowing that she still kept a ce for Keen in her heart, Marvin would never have been foolish enough to smash Keen''s mug and risk upsetting her.


    He understood perfectly well: Ste didn''t want that mug. Honestly, who really wants a secondhand gift someone else has already used?


    Marvin went on, "Keen, you can''t have everything in life. Between Ste and your Rachel, you''ll have to choose one."


    Confusion and hesitation flickered across Keen''s face, only to be quickly reced by anger.


    "You''re such a brat! Always trying to stir up trouble! I don''t believe a word you say!"


    Marvin just shrugged. "Suit yourself. But don''t be surprised when I steal your mom away."


    Inside, Keen was already panicking, but his pride wouldn''t let him admit defeat.


    "If you want her so badly, take her! She''s only embarrassing anyway. I don''t care -it''s not like you''re stealing from me; I''m just giving her up. Just don''te crawling back for Rachel when you realize how humiliating it all is!"


    Keen''s mind was a tangled mess. In truth, he had no idea what he was even saying.


    He''d never imagined having to choose between Rachel and his mom. The thought felt as impossible as picking between his mom and his dad.


    He liked Rachel, but he didn''t want his mom to leave either. Why couldn''t they both be in his life? Was Grandma right? Did Mom hate Rachel because she was jealous of her, jealous that Rachel was better than her?


    Keen was still too young to grasp anything soplicated, but his instincts told him to avoid pain.


    Unable to answer Marvin''s question, he turned and fled, desperate to escape.


    But Marvin called after him. "Keen."


    Keen froze. Marvin had always called him by his first name-never once his full name. It sent a strange shiver through him.


    He turned around. Marvin stood behind him, staring with an intensity that Keen had never seen before.


    Word by word, Marvin said, "I won''t let anyone hurt Ste. Not even if you''re her son."


    Marvin''s eyes were dark and deep, almost wolfish in their ferocity.


    He liked to y the victim, act pitiful, and that had cost him plenty. But whenever he did, he paid the price himself. Keen could do the same, but his pride and upbringing would never allow it.


    Deep down, Keen looked down on Marvin for that. He''d always acted superior, never really seeing Marvin as a threat. But at this moment, confronted by Marvin''s unfamiliar expression, Keen felt a sudden, inexplicable tension.


    Maybe this brat wasn''t quite who he thought he was. Maybe Marvin was more than just a kid who yed the victim.


    Under Marvin''s piercing gaze, Keen found himself taking a few instinctive steps back.