The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 49

Hearing Jonas' pleading voice, I stopped in my tracks.

"Jonas, I…" I hesitated, my chest tightening. He didn't deserve this. I had taken him on this trip to have fun, but instead, he was stuck in this tense, suffocating environment.

"There's plenty of space in my room," Lorraine spoke up unexpectedly, her voice calm but resolute.

I looked at her, surprised. "Are you sure? I mean…" It was one thing for me to stay in her room, but bringing Jonas along was another matter entirely. He was well-behaved, but he was still a kid. He was prone to the occasional tantrum, especially in unfamiliar settings.

Jonas, realizing the burden of his request, lowered his head timidly. However, the hopeful glint in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. I couldn't stand to see him so conflicted.

At his age, he should be free to ask for what he wanted without hesitation.

"It's fine. I really like Jonas," Lorraine said warmly.

Her words took on an edge as her gaze shifted to Yvonne. "It's mostly because I don't trust certain people."

The subtle jab was clear, and for the first time, I saw Lorraine drop her usual gentleness for something sharper. It caught me off guard but also filled me with a quiet warmth.

She didn't have to do any of this—she could have stayed out of it entirely. But she stepped in, again and again, for me. Was this what it felt like to be cared for? Maybe she liked me too. Before I could explore the thought further, Yvonne lunged forward, her expression dark with anger.

"Mommy!" Jonas' shout snapped me back to reality. I turned just in time to shield Lorraine from Yvonne's wild swing.

The slap landed on my cheek instead, her nails scraping against my skin and drawing blood. The sting was sharp, but the shock of her actions hurt more.

"What has Jared been teaching you?" I spat out, my voice trembling with anger. "First, slander; now, violence. What's next?" I stared at Yvonne, deeply disappointed. How had she turned into this person?

Yvonne's face twisted with fury, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her voice shook as she hissed, "I'm Jonas' mother. You can't replace me."