(Spoilers)
I really hope that conversation about their son being a mistake is the distorted version of what Cole actually heard (like what happened with Clyde), because if that's what they really said, then they are shitty parents and I no longer care about them I'm sorry. None should say that about their child, no amount of therapy would fix that poor child if someone just straight told him that he's not wanted, he was a mistake and only had him to fill a void in a mariage, what the hell! No wonder Cole hates his second dad and doesn't believe the compliments of the first if that's what he thinks happened!
I didn't have a bad childhood or bad parents so this actually horrified me more than anything else the novel has thrown me, good job potraying the "worst parts of my life" scenario, I love the writing for your vn's in general, but it's rare that something from a novel gets a strong reaction out of me, I think if my parents heard that a child was treated that way it would horrify them too.