Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"It's the same as what I said on the phone," Briony replied coolly.

She honestly had zero desire to see Stewart ever again.

But Stewart was insistent. "I've had a few drinks tonight, so I won't be going out. If you want to talk, come back to Southcreek Manor."

With that, the call ended.

Briony's grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles turning white.

Stella leaned over, concerned. "What did he say?"

"He wants me to go see him at Southcreek Manor. Face to face."

"What a jerk!" Stella scowled. "He's doing this on purpose, isn't he? You told him last time you'd never set foot in Southcreek Manor again, and now he's insisting you go there to negotiate? Could he be any more infuriating?"

Briony closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself.

The last time she'd been at Southcreek Manor, things had ended badly.

Right in front of Stewart, she'd told Irwin she would never come back.

Of course Stewart remembered. He was the type to keep a grudge.

Now he was forcing her to swallow every word she'd ever said to take it all back, one painful syllable at a time.

That was Stewart's real game.

"Bryn, are you... going?"

eyes. "I've played the fool for five years already.

her, equal parts worried and helpless. "I'm coming with you. He only said you had to

"Alright."

and left their private dining

door of the next room swung

small figure-Irwin, hopping and

Stella

was the last thing either of them

the air, not noticing the waiter pushing a cart loaded with steaming soup straight toward

Irwin and shouted, panicked, "Careful, kid! Move

Irwin was about to collide with the cart, Briony and Stella reached out at the

Crash!

action figure tumbled to the floor, scattering pieces across the

process what had happened. Then, seeing his broken toy on the floor, his eyes filled with tears. With a wail, he

Mom bought it for me!

the private room, alarmed

had already let

Irwin saw Lauren, he

"Mom bought me that

him, glancing at the scattered plastic on the