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

gloves

healing. It'd be

pink patch of new skin on the back of her

tone flat.

word, Stewart

for all sorts of dishes, but since he was just recovering from pneumonia,

for

she moved around the

dishes and a hearty soup to

Go wash your hands," she

up, then hurried to take his seat at the table, excitement written

of chicken and yam soup for him. "It's hot, so

mouth was practically watering as he looked at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks, Mom!

faint smile.

a chair and sat

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

sitting next to Irwin and setting one bowl in front

from them, Stewart watched

vegetables, then quietly focused on

one of those bowls of rice would have

Briony eat with