Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony blinked, her gaze steady. "Do you know why I rang the doorbell at

Southcreek Manor today?"

Stewart offered no reply, his silence stretching between them.

She continued, “Because ever since the moment I signed the divorce papers and moved out, Southcreek Manor stopped being my home. When you visit someone else's house, you ring the bell. That's just common courtesy."

Stewart's brow furrowed. "If Irwin hears you say that, he'll be upset."

Briony let out a soft laugh, the swirling snow doing a fine job of hiding the redness in her eyes.

"You really do live up to your reputation, Stewart-the brilliant attorney everyone admires and fears. You certainly know how to twist the knife."

He remained stone-faced, refusing to argue. To Briony, that look meant only one thing: he couldn't even be bothered to explain.

In the past, she would have felt crushed by that-hurt, even. But now? Not anymore.

said, if only

you think, Stewart? That my behavior today

much Irwin depends on you." Stewart hesitated, then added, "In his heart, you're

important I am to him, why did you say those things to him? You want him to understand that blood family is irreplaceable, but you also want him to cling to

shot him a look, her voice icy. "Don't you

are his real mother and son. Rosita's depression-well, reconnecting with Irwin

my way of making space for

gaze darkened, unreadable

Briony like the most natural

but as far as I was concerned—even if there was no love, I believed we were at least family, that we trusted and cared for each other. But you hid Irwin's

words still stung, even now. Briony paused, swallowed hard,

always a transaction. But even in a business partnership, I deserved to know the facts. But you-Stewart, you kept

of