Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony gave him a deep, respectful bow. "Dr. Clarke, thank you so much for coming."

Cedric Clarke scratched the back of his head, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Actually, I just ran into Stewart and the others in the parking lot."

At his words, Briony's brow furrowed.

"The others?" Stella had a bad feeling. "Who's with Stewart?"

Before Cedric could answer, a commotion sounded at the door.

Stewart walked in with Rosita at his side, and Irwin trailing after them-his forehead still bandaged.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Stella rolled up her sleeves, eyes narrowing. "If I don't lose my temper over this, then—"

Stella's mother, Scarlett Joyner, swooped in just in time, grabbing her arm and hissing, "What do you think you're doing? This is a funeral. Get a hold of yourself."

Stella gritted her teeth, barely keeping her anger in check. "They're obviously here to cause trouble!"

"The dead deserve respect," Scarlett warned. "Let's just see what they're up to. Don't do anything rash."

With no choice, Stella forced herself to swallow her outrage, at least for now.

led Rosita and Irwin to the front, accepting a candle from one of the funeral staff, preparing to pay their

planting herself

and Rosita both stopped, caught off

glare filled with utter contempt, as if she were looking

something, but Cedric Clarke quickly pulled

bad enough you showed up, but

meetings for this. She really means it," Stewart muttered.

seconds before finding his voice. "Unbelievable... Stewart, it's no wonder you're getting divorced. Honestly, you

picking up the sarcasm in Cedric's tone.

Stewart had completely missed the point. He mentally lit a candle

herself, her eyes red and brimming with tears,

accept, but Stewart and I are

laugh. She lifted Julia's portrait and held it right in front of Rosita. "Rosita, do you dare look my mother in the eye and swear you

to Julia's image, her brow

voice trembling with innocence. "Ms. Kensington, please calm down. If Ms. Hudson were here, she

a voice message before she