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,"

plastic gloves he

still healing. It'd

new skin on the

gloves, her tone flat.

Stewart left

dishes, but since he was just

researched countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a child with a sensitive

years, she moved around the kitchen

brought out five dishes and a

is ready. Go wash your

wash up, then hurried to take his seat

yam soup for him. "It's

as he looked at the spread. He

a faint smile. "Dig

out a

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

to Irwin and setting one bowl in front of

them, Stewart watched

quietly focused on her own meal. Stewart

upon a time, one of those bowls

eat with single-minded focus,