His Rejected Mommy Never Back

Chapter 6 Getting Divorced

The moment Kenneth and Harrison saw Claire, they both shot up from their seats, shock written all over their faces.

Kenneth's expression flickered with something deeper—relief, guilt, maybe even regret. Happiness at seeing her, but also a kind of pain he couldn't hide.

Harrison, on the other hand, stood frozen, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Claire's gaze fell on Kenneth's silver-streaked hair, the deep lines on his face that hadn't been there before. A lump formed in her throat, and for a moment, she almost lost control of her emotions.

She took a shaky breath and murmured, "Yeah... I'm home."

Harrison blinked at her, his voice unsteady. "Claire... tell me I'm not dreaming. You're really back?"

Her heart tightened. She had longed for this moment, but at the same time, she feared it. Feared their disappointment, their anger.

Still, she whispered, "I've missed you. I've missed you all so much."

Kenneth stepped towards her, his face darkening, his hand suddenly rising midair.

Claire braced herself for the impact. She had expected anger. She had expected punishment.

But instead, his palm landed softly against her cheek, his touch gentle. His thumb brushed over her face, voice rough with emotion. "You've lost weight."

Then, without another word, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Claire broke. The tears she had been holding back for years spilled over, running hot down her face.

Thinking back, Claire had ignored her family's strong objections and married Felix, cutting all ties with them.

There had been countless times when she'd thought about going back, but each time the weight of what she had done to her family made her rethink.

And now, standing here, she felt like the biggest fool in the world. She had left behind the people who loved her most.

Claire turned, pulling Harrison into a hug.

Harrison, who had watched over her since she was a kid, felt his throat tighten.

He stroked her hair, his voice thick. "You've been through hell, haven't you?"

A warmth spread through Claire's chest. "I'm okay now," she whispered. "I'm home. And I'm not leaving again."

At that moment, Claire's mother, Lana Brooks, who had been upstairs arranging flowers, rushed down the stairs after hearing the commotion.

"The second she saw Claire, all elegance and composure disappeared. She practically threw herself forward, wrapping Claire up in the kind of embrace only a mother could give.

"My baby," she sobbed. "My sweet girl. You're finally home. I missed you so much."

Claire clung to her, her own tears falling freely. "Mom, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Lana cupped Claire's face in her hands, eyes scanning her daughter's features like she was trying to make up for lost time. "You look so thin," she muttered. Then, her expression hardened. "That bastard. I didn't marry you off so you could be miserable."

Claire gave a small smile. "Mom, I'm okay. Just been busy with work."

Kenneth, now fully composed, folded his arms. "So, where's Felix? And Leo?"

He let out a slow breath before adding, "Look, Claire... as long as he's good to you, we'll accept him as a family."

Truth be told, he had never liked Felix. Thought he was irresponsible, lacked real ambition, and came from an unimpressive background. But if Claire had chosen him, then Kenneth had been willing to tolerate him.

Claire lowered her gaze, a bitter taste in her mouth. Her voice was quiet when she finally said, "Dad... I'm divorcing him. And Leo is staying with him."

"What?" Lana's voice spiked with disbelief. "You're divorcing? What the hell happened?"

Claire took a deep breath and told them everything.

By the time she finished, the air in the room was electric with anger.

Harrison's jaw clenched, his entire body tense. "That piece of s**t," he growled. "How dare he do this to you?"

Kenneth's hand slammed against the table, the loud bang making even Lana jump. "That bastard is a goddamn disgrace!"

"I knew I never should've trusted him," Lana seethed. "But I never imagined he'd stoop this low."

Kenneth's voice was like steel. "We're not wasting time on this. Claire, I'll get you the best divorce lawyer. We'll make sure that bastard walks away with nothing."

Claire swallowed against the knot in her throat. She didn't want to drag them into her mess, not again. "I'll handle it," she assured them. "I'll fight for what's mine."

The tension eased slightly as they sat together, talking late into the evening.

Kenneth held onto Claire's hand like he was afraid to let go. "Now that you're back, what's your plan? You should come work at Harrison's company."

For the first time in years, Claire felt a sense of belonging. A sense of home.

She paused for a moment and then shook her head. "I still want to work at the hospital."

Harrison spoke up, his voice warm, "With your credentials, you could easily land a position as chief physician here."

The Brooks family owned the largest private hospital in the city, after all.

But Claire shook her head firmly. "I want to start as a regular doctor. No special treatment. I want to prove myself."

Kenneth studied her for a long moment, a flicker of pride in his eyes before he gave a slow nod. "If that's what makes you happy, then that's all that matters. Just remember, no matter what, we've got your back."