Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony ignored her and focused on her own meal, barely glancing up.

That New Year's Eve dinner was shrouded in an uneasy, suffocating silence.

Stella ate in tears, each bite swallowed with more saltwater than food.

Briony, on the other hand, managed to eat quite a bit.

But as she cleared the table, she suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and bolted for the bathroom, where she threw up everything she'd eaten.

Stella panicked, but Briony just offered a faint smile and murmured that she was simply tired.

It was barely nine o'clock-hours still to go before midnight.

Stella gently supported Briony, helping her to bed.

In the past three days, Briony had barely slept a wink.

And if Briony was awake, Stella couldn't rest either.

Given the state Briony was in, Stella refused to leave her side. She'd called their parents earlier to explain, and they understood, reminding her to take good care of Briony.

Once Briony lay down, exhaustion overtook her and she drifted off almost instantly.

beside her, and before she knew it, she too had

how long had passed when Briony, half-dreaming,

tears streaking her

Boom! Boom! Boom-

the night sky exploded in a riot of fireworks,

fast asleep. Carefully, Briony slipped out from under the covers and

Year's. She needed

...

city was alive with noise and celebration. Families and friends flocked

pale dress and slippers, Briony wove unsteadily through the

across the river-a Northborough tradition

at the glowing lanterns

slipped out, and with it, the dam she'd held

Year's. Why aren't you coming home...

cheers filled the night, but Briony gripped

and desperate, was swallowed by the crowd-no

how she called, there

through her. Her mother was

she no longer

fresh wishes into