All Chapters of Borrowed Love Has an Expiration Date: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

My lawyer, Everett Preston, replied in no time. "I can have the agreement drafted by tonight. You should prepare in advance to fight for your son's custody. Gather and organize all your chat histories from over the years." I had just saved the screenshots when Celeste Rochester pushed open the door and walked in. She was still wearing the light blue matching family dress from the live broadcast, with a smudge of cream on her sleeve. Jonah Bellamy trailed behind her, holding Iris Bellamy's hand. "Is there anything left to eat at home? Iris has been complaining about being hungry ever since the event ended." Celeste draped her bag over the back of a chair and ordered me around as usual. "Make us a plate of spaghetti. Go easy on the basil. Iris doesn't eat it." I didn't budge.Kevin poked his head out from behind me, clutching his drawing, which had been torn in half. "Mommy, why didn't you show up to watch my performance?" It hit Celeste that he was still wearing his costume.

Kevin slowly released the hem of Celeste's clothes. "You promised Kevin you'd teach him how to make a kite during the open class," I reminded her."There'll be plenty of opportunities in the future," she responded flatly. "Iris was just ridiculed by her classmates over the way she addressed me. If I don't show up, it'll only make things worse for her." "So, you're sacrificing your son's dignity to protect hers?" Celeste scanned our surroundings. "Don't argue with me at school. It's embarrassing enough already!""Kai, I can ask Celeste not to go, but Iris' therapist said she can't be abandoned again," Jonah explained with red-rimmed eyes. I looked him in the eye. "My son had three nightmares last night." "Kevin has you by his side," he said. The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize how inappropriate they sounded. His expression stiffened, and he hurriedly added, "I mean, he's luckier than Iris." Kevin suddenly looked up. "I can let Iris borrow Mommy for

The third strike brought the lock down with a loud crack. I rushed inside and pulled back the fallen curtains. Kevin was curled up in the corner. His little face was as pale as a sheet."Look at me, Kevin!"He couldn't open his eyes, and he only managed to grip one of my fingers. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics immediately strapped an oxygen mask onto him. Celeste tried to get into the vehicle, but I raised my hand to stop her. "Don't touch him!" "Now's not the time to act out of spite, Kai.""When you deleted the surveillance footage, did you ever consider that he might die inside?" All the color drained from her lips. Jonah ran over with Iris in his arms. "Don't leave just yet, Celeste. The principal said she's calling the cops. Iris is just a child. We can't let this go on her record!"Celeste took a look at the ambulance before shifting her gaze toward him. That single glance was all it took. I slammed the ambulance door shut. By the time we reached the

On the third day after we moved, Celeste showed up with a box of things. The moment the door opened, she pushed the box toward me. "I brought all of Kevin's picture books, clothes, and the nightlights from his bedside."I looked through the box without inviting her inside. "Thank you." My polite response made her stiffen. "Do we really have to talk to each other like this?" "How else should we talk, Ms. Rochester?" Celeste gazed at me for a long while. "I've already told Jonah not to contact me again." "That's your business." "You used to mind it so much." "That was then. This is now." Kevin's voice drifted out from inside as he talked to Dad. Celeste instinctively peered inside. "How's he doing today?" "His follow-up results are good." "Can I see him?" "I asked him. He doesn't want to see you." Her fingers brushed against the edge of the box, and she rasped out, "I bought him a new performance outfit. His teacher said there's another performance next month. I'

Celeste watched the video three times. "If I call her Mommy, will she live with us?" Iris asked in the footage.Jonah smiled as he helped her put on their matching outfits. "As long as everyone thinks we're one big family, she won't have the heart to abandon you." When the video ended, her fingers unconsciously tightened around her phone. "Who sent this?" "Jonah's ex-wife," Mr. Preston answered. "While applying to modify the custody arrangement, she came across the event footage uploaded by the kindergarten." Celeste immediately dialed Jonah's number. "Why did you list me as Iris' stepmother on the registration form?"He was silent for a couple of seconds before he let out a derisive chuckle. "I just didn't want the school to look down on a child from a single-parent family." "What about that video?" "Iris wanted a mother. I was just comforting her." "So, you deliberately had her call me Mommy on the live broadcast?" Jonah's facade crumbled. It was as if he was done p