Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The crowd around them seemed to freeze in place.

Above their heads, paper lanterns drifted into the night sky while farther out, floating candles carried wishes downstream on the river.

A cool evening breeze brushed Briony's cheek, lifting a few strands of her hair.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she pulled her gaze away from the glowing lights and looked up at James. "Let's go."

James glanced down at her, his arm still protectively around her shoulders.

"You didn't get hurt back there, did you?"

"No," Briony replied quietly, eyes lowered. "Thank you."

James swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "There are too many people here. I'll help you get out."

That brief scare had left her a little shaken. At a moment like this, Briony couldn't be bothered with propriety; she simply nodded. "Alright."

James guided her through the crowd, one arm shielding her shoulders, the other held out in front to clear a path.

Behind them, an intense, cold stare followed their every move, lingering until they finally broke free of the throng and reached the car.

The door closed, shutting out the noise-and that unsettling gaze.

Briony leaned back in her seat, eyes closed, looking exhausted.

James glanced at her, lips pressing into a thin line. After a moment, he turned and looked toward the back seat. “Where do you live, Hannah? I'll take you home first."

beamed and rattled off her

dropping Hannah off, James turned the

seemed to have fallen asleep, her eyes

the

Bzzz-

from inside

reached into her

Carney, calling to say a high-profile client had just reclaimed a significant artifact

James could do the job justice, and asked if Briony could return to Silveridge with

hanging up, she relayed the

I'll pick you up tomorrow

But you'll need to drop me at my studio first-I left all my

"Alright."

minutes later, the Range Rover pulled up

waved him off. "No need. There's a security guard

...

on

two steps

outside her studio door. Briony's brow furrowed. "What are you

lantern. "Irwin bought this for you. You forgot

the lantern. "Then let it stay

his dark eyes fixed on her. "It's from

was in a bad mood. After all, they'd been married for five