The sharp click–click–click of heels against tile silenced the room. The little heads swiveled toward the door in perfect unison. 

Lucas leaned toward Brandon, stage–whispering, “Who’s that?” 

Rose pushed the door fully open, taking in the scene with barely concealed disapproval. Her gaze landed on the three children sprawled across her son’s hospital bed, and her lips pinched together 

“Is this how Irene lets her kids behave?” Her voice oozed contempt. Zero manners? Hello? This is a hospital, not Chuck E. Cheese.” 

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She jabbed her finger toward the bed. “My son is literally recovering from surgery. What are you three thinking, crawling all over 

him like that?” 

The triplets slid off the bed right away, their faces dropping. They stood awkwardly by the bedside, suddenly feeling like they’d done something terrible. 

Brandon’s smile disappeared, his expression cooling as he looked at his mother. 

“Mom, chill,” he said, his voice noticeably cooler. “They’re just kids. No need to go ballistic over nothing.” 

Rose’s eyes cut over the triplets like laser beams. “What if they smack into your leg? Then what?” 

“We wouldn’t,” Alex piped up, suddenly quiet. “We were being super careful.” 

“Oh, please,” Rose snapped. “Like five–year–olds have any self–control Give me a break.” 

Alex looked down at his shoes. Lucas and Lily exchanged worried glances, suddenly not feeling very excited about their visit 

anymore. 

Brandon watched the triplets shrink under his mother’s attack, his jaw tightening. 

“Mom,” he said, his voice dropping dangerously low. “Why are you going off on little kids? Whatever your deal is, they’re your grandkids, for God’s sake!” 

Rose’s face twisted like she’d bitten a lemon. “They’re nothing but bastard children. My grandkids? Please. When has our family ever 

claimed them as anything?” 

Her voice got sharper, letting out all the anger she’d been holding onto for years. 

“We are NOT!” the triplets shouted together, eyes flashing with defiance despite the tears threatening to spill. 

“Mom! Seriously? They’re right freaking here!” 

“What? Am I lying?” Rose jabbed a finger toward the triplets. “Irene Hooked up with who–knows–who and popped out these three. If they’re not bastards, what exactly would you call them?” 

“That’s not true!” Lily shouted, her tiny fists balled up tight. “We already found our daddy!” 

Lucas stepped forward chin jutting out. “You’re being super mean! Don’t adults have to be nice? Why’s your mouth so nasty? Did you forget to brush your teeth this morning? Does everyone in your family suck this bad?” 

The room went quiet. Rose’s face turned red, her hands gripping her bag tightly. 

“I’m being mean?” she hissed. “Look at how you talk to adults! Your mother’s always been a mess, and apparently she can’t be 

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bothered to teach you basic mannets. If she won’t whip you brats into shape, guess I’ll have to do it myself! 

Rose hinged toward Lucas, hand raised high, ready to strike. 

Alex moved without thinking, throwing himself in front of his brother. The sharp crack of Rose’s hand connecting with Alex’s bark echoed through the room. 

“MOM! KNOCK IT OFF!” Brandon shouted, struggling to get up despite his leg 

Lily burst into tears, ugly crying with hiccups and all, Lucas’s face went nuclear red, and he shoved Rose with everything his little body had. 

“Get away from him! We didn’t do anything to you, crazy lady!” 

Rose stumbled back and grabbed the wall to keep from falling. Her face turned purple, and she could barely breathe she was so mad. 

Henry ran in when he heard the yelling. He took one look at Rose against the wall, Alex rubbing his back, Lily crying, and Lucas standing in front of his siblings like a tiny bodyguard. 

“Mrs. Sterling, come on,” Henry said, jumping between them. “They’re just little kids, for crying out loud.” 

Rose could barely catch her breath, hate shooting from her eyes like daggers. “See how they act? No respect whatsoever! This is what happens when Irene’s in charge–raising little monsters who think they own the world!” 

She pushed Henry out of her way and stormed toward the triplets. “Someone needs to teach you three a lesson, and I guess it’s gonna be me!” 

“Mom! Back OFF!” Brandon roared, practically throwing himself out of bed despite the pain twisting his face. 

Henry blocked Rose’s path again, standing firm despite his polite tone. “We’re in a hospital.” 

Suddenly, Katherine showed up in the doorway. She took one look at the scene and her eyes narrowed. 

“What the hell is going on here?” 

Lily spotted Katherine and bolted to her, face soaked with tears. “Katherine! She smacked Alex really hard!” 

Katherine’s face turned to stone in a split second. She scooped Lily up with one arm and yanked the boys behind her with the other. 

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Katherine asked, her accent getting thicker with each angry word. “Where I come from, you touch someone else’s kid, you lose a hand. Who the fuck do you think you are?” 

Rose drew herself up, all indignant. “I’m teaching these children some manners. What’s it to you? And who are you supposed to be 

anyway?” 

“I’m Irene’s friend and colleague,” Katherine fired back. “These kids are absolute sweethearts who everybody adores back home. Their mom has never once laid a finger on them. So what makes you think you can?” 

Rose faltered for a split second before jutting her chin out. “I don’t have to justify disciplining my own grandchildren to some random foreigner.” 

Katherine’s laugh could’ve frozen hell over. “Grandchildren? Are you kidding me? Weren’t you the one who kicked Irene to the curb? And now suddenly these are your grandkids? That’s some next–level bullshit.” She tightened her grip on Lily. Just wait until Irene finds out what you did. She’s gonna lose her mind.” 

Brandon watched helplessly as Katherine took the kids out. When they were gone, he looked at his mother with pure 

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disappointment. 

“Mom, you crossed the line,” he said quietly. You owe them an apology. Those kids were just hanging out with their uncle.” 

Rose gasped like she’d been slapped. ‘Brandon! How dare you talk to me like that? I’m your mother! You’re seriously taking their side over mine? 

Brandon stared at her like he was seeing a stranger wearing his mother’s face, “They’re not some random brats. They’re frene’s kids- my niece and nephews.” 

“I honestly don’t even recognize you right now,” he said, turning away from her. 

Rose’s face went pale. She sat down in the chair by the window, still too proud to admit she’d done anything wrong. 

Brandon stared at the ceiling, his heart sinking as he pictuted Irene face when she found out what happened. How was he supposed to explain that their mother had hit Alex? That she’d called her kids bastards to their faces? He squeezed his eyes shut, knowing this would hurt Irene all over again. Five years away hadn’t been nearly enough to escape the damage their family could 

inflict. 

Damn, Mom, he thought, his fist clenching beneath the blanket. Those kids didn’t deserve any of this. 

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