Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

By the time Briony finally made it back to the studio, dawn was already breaking. Utterly exhausted, she changed into pajamas and collapsed into bed, falling

asleep almost instantly.

She had no idea how long she'd been out when a frantic knocking at the door jolted her awake.

Her eyes flew open and she stared at the familiar ceiling, breath coming quick and shallow. It took her a moment to gather her wits.

She'd been dreaming.

In the dream, she was standing above a river of blood, so vivid it made her shudder. Somewhere in the distance, an infant's cries echoed in her ears...

From outside the room, Hannah's voice rang out. "Briony? Are you awake?"

Her lashes fluttered. Briony pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

The room spun as she stood, her body heavy and unsteady.

"Briony? Briony..." Hannah's voice grew more anxious.

"I'm coming," Briony croaked, forcing herself upright and shuffling to the door.

door swung open,

half to death. It's ten o'clock and you

something had

creature

she clearly

she rasped, her

a once-over. "You don't look

a hand to her forehead. It

she said. "A few days

won't do," Hannah insisted, placing a hand on Briony's forehead. "You've got a fever! You need to see

take

want

just need

retreated to

clearly unconvinced. "There's a nasty flu going around. You really

shutting the studio down for the year. Have finance pay everyone's salary in advance— cover twelve months-and give each person a year-end bonus of, say, twenty thousand. We'll start our holiday tomorrow, and won't reopen until after

in shock.

had done well this year, but with those numbers, the total payout