Chapter 354
They had just entered the courtyard when Mrs. Stapleton came running out of the house. Her hair was disheveled, her expression frantic. She stumbled halfway across the lawn. “Theo, we still have time! We have to go now p>
She was still clutching the laptop, insisting they had to see the autumn leaves today, that Lorraine was getting angry.
Theodore caught her, and as she looked up, her hair fell away from her face, revealing a gash on her forehead. The left side of her face was smeared with blood.
“You’re hurt! What happened?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
“Don’t waste any more time, we have to p>
“What happened?” Theodore demanded, his voice sharp.
“It’s your fault for insisting on dealing with that… that extra person p>
“Mom p>
“I did it myself. Are you satisfied p>
Theodore froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. Something inside him seemed to shatter. His jaw tightened, then slackened in defeat. He let out a long, weary sigh.
“Dr. Anderson is on his way. Let’s get that wound taken care of p>
“No! It’s getting dark. If we delay any longer, we’ll miss the leaves today p>
“There’s always tomorrow p>
“Tomorrow means we broke our promise! How could we break a promise to Lorraine p>
“The leaves will be just as red tomorrow. Lorraine will be just as happy to see them p>
But Mrs. Stapleton wasn’t listening. She grabbed Theodore’s arm, trying to pull him toward the gate. That’s when she saw Norton. He was watching them, his face etched with worry, but as her gaze fell on him, he instinctively took a step back. “Mom p>
“Don’t call me Mom!” Her eyes flashed with hatred. “What have you done to yourself? You don’t look anything like Lorraine anymore p>
“I I just got a haircut,” Norton stammered, touching his head self-consciously.
“I don’t want to see you. Get out of my sight. Now p>
The tears that welled in Norton’s eyes seemed to shatter as they fell. His whole being, his very heart, broke with them.
“That’s enough!” Theodore stepped in front of Norton. “This family can take responsibility for Lorraine’s death We can accept your blame and your torment But Norton. Norton did nothing wrong!
“I should never have given birth to him p>
“Then the fault lies with you p>
“You’re saying I’m wrong p>
“Yes, you are wrong! Norton is your child, just like Lorraine was! You have no right to treat him so cruelly p>
“How can you even compare him to Lorraine p>
The accusation sent Mrs. Stapleton into a frenzy. She tried to lunge past Theodore,
to tear Norton apart, but he held her back.
“I want him dead! Dead p>
Theodore struggled to restrain her,
seeing the familiar signs of an
impending psychotic break. He knew that nothing he said would get through to her now. He told
Penelope to take Nortond leave,
then carried his thrashing, screaming mother back into the house.
As the front door closed, cutting off Mrs. Stapleton’s sharp, cruel words, Norfon let out a shaky breath, then he turned and bolted, running out of the courtyard and toward the street.
Penelope raced after him. She caught up to him at the edge of the road, just as a
large truck was barreling toward them. Norton stood frozen, poised as if to jump into its path.
“Norton p>
Panic seized her. She screamed his name, her voice trembling.