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.

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

was impossible to say how long had passed when Briony, half-dreaming, heard someone

startled awake, drenched in sweat, tears streaking her

Boom! Boom! Boom-

in a riot of fireworks, bursting in brilliant

room was dim and quiet. Briony glanced over at Stella, who was fast asleep. Carefully, Briony slipped out from under the covers and tiptoed out

She needed to

...

by the river, the city was alive with noise and celebration. Families and friends flocked together in joyful crowds to ring in the

Briony wove unsteadily through the revelers

lanterns drifted across the river-a Northborough tradition to welcome the new year

at the glowing lanterns

she'd held for three days finally

Why aren't you coming

Briony gripped the railing, calling for her mother

voice, ragged and desperate, was swallowed by the

matter how she called, there

grief tore through her. Her

now, she no

behind, voices shouted fresh wishes