Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

After her shower, Julia slipped into fresh clothes. Briony and Stella whisked her off to a salon next.

Julia's hair had been chopped short during her time in prison, and five years later, streaks of gray had crept in. Briony asked the stylist to dye the grays black and give Julia a gentle trim, shaping her hair into something softer, more hopeful.

When they left the salon, Julia felt as if she'd been reborn.

Briony had reserved a private dining room for lunch. Just before noon, the trio arrived at The Regal Waters Hotel.

Their room was on the third floor. A waiter led the way.

As they turned a corner, a group approached from the opposite direction. At the front was an elegant older woman, her bearing regal and unmistakable. By her side walked a young man whose sharp features bore a striking resemblance to Briony.

Briony frowned. Of all places... She never imagined they'd run into the Kensingtons here.

When Julia saw them, her face drained of color and she froze mid-step.

Stella was dumbstruck too. Was the world really this small?

Ms. Hudson's first day out of prison, and she already bumped into these people!

"Unbelievable," Stella muttered under her breath. "Julia, when we get home, you're walking through the fireplace again for luck!"

pressed her lips together, silent, but the tension in her posture gave her

steering Julia in another direction,

slammed her cane against the marble floor, her voice

with hatred. "Yes, Grandma. It's her." Madeline seethed. "So I can't even have a peaceful eightieth birthday! That

of the Kensington clan behind her

years in prison and she walks free, waltzing into fancy

back then, she

rage. "My son's death can't be wiped away just because you spent five years behind bars,

Mack spat, stalking toward them, "I'll get justice

knowing he meant trouble.

said, locking eyes with him, her tone steely. "Touch her, and you'll have to

a mother hen guarding her chick. "Briony, you'll

chill ran

much like his father -especially now, with

old beatings flashed through Julia's mind. She clung to Briony's hand,

right here." Just then, a waiter pushed a cart past, steam curling up from a tureen

and he gave a twisted smile. “Let's see how

he snatched up the bowl