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?"

hint of resolve flickered in Briony's eyes. "I've played the fool for five years already. One more time won't make

"I'm coming with you. He only said you had to go―he didn't say you had

"Alright."

and left

moment, the door of the next room

a small figure-Irwin, hopping and skipping into the

and Stella

was the

dashed ahead, waving his action figure in the air, not noticing the waiter pushing a cart loaded with steaming

spotted Irwin and shouted, panicked, "Careful, kid! Move out of the

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

Crash!

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

action figure! Mom bought it for

out from the private room,

Stella had already let

Lauren, he ran straight to

her arms, sobbing. "Mom bought me that action figure

hugged him, glancing at the scattered