Lorna paused, then offered a gentle smile. "I''m sorry, Ms. Kensington, but Mario has a tutoring over tonight. He won''t be able to visit you."
Briony''s expression darkened at her words.
"He''s only four years old. Don''t you think you''re being a bit too strict with him?"
"Mario is the future heir of the Wentworth Group," Lorna replied, her face serious. "Most children in prominent families start their training at this age. There''s no need to be anxious, Ms. Kensington. Stewart and I both care deeply for Mario. We''ll make sure his lessons and rest are bnced-he won''t be overworked."
"Training?" Briony''s anger red. "He''s four! He just started preschool, and you already want to put him through training? Isn''t that a bit much?"
"This is what''s expected of a Wentworth heir," Lorna said, frowning, clearly displeased by Briony''s questioning. "I understand you care for him, Ms. Kensington, but boys shouldn''t be coddled. Mario is a Wentworth-he''s destined to be exceptional. Someday, he''ll make you proud. You gave birth to him, and he''ll give back to you."
"I don''t need him to be exceptional, and I don''t need him to pay me back," Briony shot back, her voice trembling. "All I want is for him to be healthy and safe, to grow up happy and free from worry."
"Ms. Kensington, that''s a bit naive," Lorna replied coolly. "All parents want their children to be the best, but not every child is born into a family like the Wentworths. I know you''re worried, but Stewart came up the same way. If he could do it, so can Mario."
"You''re just turning him into a tool, a means to inherit the Wentworth Group! You only care about his achievements, never whether he can handle the pressure!"
Briony red at Lorna, her voice breaking. "You''re right-I was naive to ever believe that you or Stewart would truly care about my son!"
She bent down, arms outstretched, ready to scoop Mario up.
But Mario darted away, hiding behind Lorna.
Briony froze.
"Mario?" she said, disbelief in her voice. "I''m your mom. Come home with me, okay?"
Little Mario clung to Lorna''s skirt and shook his head firmly. "No, Mom. I can''t go with you. I have lessons tonight."
His voice was steady, his tiny face unyielding.
Briony couldn''t believe it.
What had they done to her child in just a single week?
Tears welled in her eyes as Ferdinand''s words echoed in her mind.
So it was all true.
Stewart wasn''t fighting her for their son out of love he just needed an heir for the Wentworth family.
He didn''t want a son. He wanted a perfect sessor.
But to make a "suitable" Wentworth heir meant breaking a child''s spirit from the very beginning.
At just four years old, Mario''s
childhood would be swallowed up by rules and expectations. Even his feelings and emotions would be stamped out.
But her son was a living, breathing little boy.
He was only four...
How could they be so heartless?
Briony couldn''t bear to let this continue.
"Mario, sweetheart, please,e home with me."
But little Mario shook his head again.
Briony stared at her son-his small face pinched with a cold, determined frown. Helplessness and fear flooded her heart.
"Ms. Kensington." Lorna scooped Mario into her arms and looked at Briony. "Mario may only be four, but he knows what he wants. You saw it yourself-he wants to stay here. He likes his life. You have nothing to worry about."
With that, Lorna carried Mario toward the house.
"Mario..." Briony called, her voice cracking.
She tried to follow, but two men in ck suits blocked her way.
"Let me go!" she cried, struggling as they dragged her toward the gate.
Lorna climbed the steps, pausing before the door. She turned and
offered Briony a thin, dismiss
smile. “Ms. Kensington, don''t make a scene. Go home-Mario is just fine.”
"Give me back my son!" Briony shouted desperately.
Lorna ignored her, disappearing inside with Mario in her arms.
Briony could only watch as the front door mmed shut.
The guards shoved her outside and with a heavy thud, the gate closed behind
her.