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.

before she knew it, she too had fallen

long had passed when Briony,

awake, drenched in sweat, tears streaking her face, her

Boom! Boom! Boom-

the night sky exploded in a riot of fireworks, bursting in brilliant color. The new year

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

New Year's. She needed to

...

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

Briony wove unsteadily through the

floating lanterns drifted across the river-a Northborough tradition to welcome the

lanterns until her vision blurred with

held for three days finally broke; tears rushed

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

filled the night, but Briony gripped the railing, calling

voice, ragged and desperate, was

there would

her. Her mother was

she no

shouted fresh wishes into the