Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Here is a culturally localized English adaptation for a Western novel audience. All Chinese-specific cultural elements, names, and references have been seamlessly replaced or adapted for natural, immersive reading:

This trip to Ghana had come up out of nowhere.

Neither Briony nor Stella had time to pack clothes suitable for the local weather. Thankfully, most of what they'd brought from Cloudcrest City was light spring wear. Each of them rummaged through their suitcases and pulled out the thinnest sundresses they could find.

Briony, still recovering from an illness, looked even more fragile than usual. The cream-colored dress she chose hung loosely from her slender frame, the small V- neck unable to hide her collarbones-so sharp and delicate they looked as if they could cradle a butterfly. She was beautiful, certainly, but for an expectant mother, her thinness was worrying.

Stella eyed her up and down, her gaze drifting to Briony's stomach. With a sigh, she reached out and gently touched Briony's belly. "Who ever heard of someone carrying twins and still being this skinny? When all this is over and we get back to Northborough, I'm going to have a serious talk with Gina. She needs to make sure you get your strength back!"

Briony had always been the type who lost weight easily, and with everything that had happened lately, the stress had only made things worse.

Stella withdrew her hand and gave a resigned sigh. "On the bright side, at least nobody would ever guess you're pregnant."

Briony looked at her own reflection in the tall mirror, quietly laying a hand over her stomach.

It was eight in the morning when Briony and Stella came downstairs.

They'd rented a car locally-Cedric Clarke was at the wheel, with Stewart riding shotgun. Stella linked her arm through Briony's as they slid into the back seat.

Once the doors were shut, Cedric started the engine. "Let's grab some breakfast first," he suggested. "It's still early."

They definitely needed food. Briony, after a day of nausea, finally felt hungry again.

Five minutes later, they pulled up outside a small breakfast café by the coast.

Chinese family-a sign of the growing number of Chinese tourists discovering Ghana in recent years, and enterprising expats seizing the opportunity. The owner, originally from the Winslow Harbor area, was warm and welcoming. The menu featured all sorts of Asian breakfast staples-soy milk, fried

comforting rice porridge and sweet potato soup were

of the mild

the place and ordered himself a peanut soup, sipping it with an air

glare, cleared his throat awkwardly, and tried to joke,

her fried bread, glaring at him. "You really think we're here on holiday? Briony was forced into this mission, and honestly, this meal's making my

comeback for that

to Stella and Cedric's banter, Stewart and Briony were ice-cold. Though they sat across from each other, they didn't exchange a single word-or even

of the bowl. Stewart barely touched his

focusing on her meal. When she was finished, she set down her

finished and was waiting

exchanged a look, then rose

his voice. "You sure you're not going to leave me out to

him a cold look, said nothing, and got up to follow

car, Cedric restarted

asked, "So where exactly are

Stewart, who remained silent-a sign it was fine

headed to the science museum,"

"The science museum? What

onto the road. "Relax, it's not like you're about to be