Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

By the time Briony got home, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Their new live-in housekeeper, Gina, had arrived around midday.

Gina was from the north-about Julia's age, direct, efficient, and with a knack for spotless housekeeping. But it was her cooking that really won Julia over.

Dinner that night was all Gina's doing. With nothing else to occupy her, Julia decided to lend a hand in the kitchen, hoping to pick up a few new recipes.

Julia could manage some basic dishes, but nothing too fancy. After all, she'd grown up as the cherished daughter of a wealthy family, and marrying into the Kensingtons had only reinforced a life attended by maids and butlers. Domestic chores were never expected of her.

Briony, knowing how much her mother had suffered during those five years in prison, couldn't bear to see her have to struggle with daily life now that she was finally free.

Now that Briony was in a position to help, she wanted to give her mother the best life possible.

Their apartment was conveniently close to Briony's studio, though the building itself was hardly luxurious. For now, Briony had cleared out her study to give Gina a room, but she was already planning to buy a river-view villa near the studio after the New Year.

That new place had gorgeous landscaping, spacious gardens, and a backyard perfect for Julia to grow flowers-a peaceful spot for her mother to enjoy her later years.

After dinner, Briony told Julia she'd be away on a business trip for about ten days. Julia didn't suspect a thing. She urged Briony to focus on work and assured her that having Gina around meant she'd be just fine at home.

Only then did Briony feel truly at ease.

That night, she and her mother shared a bed, lying side by side in the dark, talking quietly.

Mostly, Julia spoke while Briony listened.

The stories were old ones-painful memories from years ago. Five years behind bars had broken Julia, and now her daughter was the only person she could confide in.

Julia had grown up under the strict expectations of the Hudson family, groomed for the perfect society match. As an adult, she never really learned to assert herself. After marrying into the Kensington family, she endured her husband's affairs in silence, because her own family would never have permitted divorce.

She suffered in silence. But her patience never earned her any pity from her husband. Whatever tenderness he had was reserved for the woman outside their marriage; the violence, he saved for Julia.

sake, she gritted her

broken ribs, courtesy of her husband, while the Kensingtons

misfortune to her father and brother if she stayed. Briony was barely a year old when, on the strength of that single declaration, she was sent away to the countryside to be raised

obedient as Julia—a pawn for another arranged

turned twenty-two, Julia, after years of abuse, finally fought back for the first time. She never meant to kill anyone. She only

rest of the story, Briony

mother, her

now, Mom. We'll be okay from here on

is. But

a husband, pick someone who

if, by some misfortune, you choose wrong-if you love the wrong person or marry the wrong man-have the courage to walk away. Never forget

her mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

next morning, Stella

she'd drive Briony to the

together, Stella

instead of the airport, they drove to the hospital, where

cautious, Briony

for two o'clock. I'm on shift this morning, but I'll be here with you as soon as I'm

the one facing surgery, but Stella was the more anxious of the two, fussing over every detail. "Just rest in your room. If you can get some sleep, all the better. If you need anything, call a

her a faint smile. "I'll be fine. Go on, you'll be late for

a resigned sigh, Stella

door clicked shut, Briony's smile

head, hands gently resting on her

I hope, little one, that

family—a life full

Bzzz. Bzzz.

phone vibrated

It was Stewart calling.

reluctant