Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony's surgery was scheduled for the eighth of January.

Stella's vacation had just ended, and on the seventh, she needed to return to the hospital. Still, she couldn't help but worry, so she called Briony-only to find out Briony had already gone out for the day.

That morning, Briony had arranged to meet with a realtor to tour houses on the edge of Pearbrook, in the neighborhood known as Whispering Pines Estates.

She had her eye on a particular standalone house, the one closest to the riverbank.

After walking through the property, Briony turned to the realtor and said, "My mother loves gardening."

The realtor, not knowing the full story, immediately beamed. "Then this place is perfect! Look at the backyard—it's big enough for all the flowers, shrubs, and trees she might want. Your mom will absolutely love it here."

Briony regarded the realtor for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "Yes. She would love it."

"You could convert the front yard into an open carport," the realtor continued eagerly, "and over there maybe add a koi pond? If your mother enjoys gardening, I imagine she'd like having fish as well."

Briony's smile lingered, gentle but distant. "Yes. I'll take it."

Even so early in the year, Pearbrook's riverfront was still bustling with people. Briony wasn't ready to go home. She wanted to walk by the water for a while.

It was a bright, clear day-the wind calm, but the air still biting cold.

She wore a loose dress under her black down coat, with Milo, her little dog, quietly trotting at her side.

traffic light turned red. Pedestrians stopped at the curb, but Briony, lost

car horn

Briony snapped back to reality-just in time to see a white sedan

"Watch out!"

yanked out of harm's way and, a heartbeat later, collided hard against

from where she'd been standing. The passenger window rolled down and an angry driver stuck his head out, shouting, "Hey! Watch where you're going! If you want to get yourself killed, at least don't drag

raised his other hand in apology. "I'm

driver scoffed, rolled up his window, and sped

her breath and gently

her go, his face

him, managing a faint, wry smile.

James wasn't buying it.

and asked him to check on

are you headed?"

by the river for a bit,"

James took a step forward, then paused and turned back, reaching for her

him, a

"What?" she asked.