Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony was the first to look away, turning to the older woman and saying, "You've got it wrong-he's not my husband."

"Oh?" The woman blinked in surprise, caught off guard for the first time in her years of sales pitches. After a long pause, she managed, "Oh... I see."

Briony didn't dwell on the awkward exchange. She grabbed a neatly packaged tray of ribs from the meat counter and headed toward the produce section. Stewart watched her go, his eyes cool and unreadable.

...

By the time they returned to Southcreek Manor, it was already noon.

Briony went straight to the kitchen to start lunch.

Irwin was in the living room, tinkering with his new toys.

No sooner had Briony tied on her apron than the glass kitchen door slid open.

She turned and saw Stewart step inside.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

He glanced at the ingredients on the counter, his voice calm. "Do you want a hand?"

"I'm fine," Briony replied without looking up, already busy at the sink.

Stewart stood and watched her for a moment before quietly leaving. She turned on the tap and pulled out the vegetables to wash them.

It wasn't long before Stewart returned.

these," he

mid-wash, eyeing the plastic gloves he held out.

your hand is still healing. It'd be better

patch of new skin on the back of her hand. He

the gloves, her tone flat. "Thanks.

another word, Stewart

but since he was just recovering from

she'd researched countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a child with a

years, she

she brought out five dishes and a hearty soup to the dining

is ready. Go

toy and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat

a bowl of chicken and yam soup for

Irwin's mouth was practically watering as he looked at

a faint smile.

a

walked it back to the kitchen, and paused. After a moment, she took the apron and tossed it in the

Irwin and setting

Stewart

Irwin some vegetables, then quietly focused on her own meal.

of those bowls of rice would have been for

with single-minded focus,