Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The room was spacious, and in the center stood a large green screen.

A staff member approached Briony, holding a pair of VR goggles. "Ms. Kensington, please close your eyes. I'll help you put these on," she said gently.

Briony closed her eyes.

The staff member carefully fitted the goggles over her face, then guided her forward by the hand.

Once they reached the designated spot, the staff member let go and said, "You can open your eyes now, Ms. Kensington."

Briony slowly opened her eyes-

And was greeted by the familiar sight of a sun-dappled country lane from her memories. In the distance, the intermittent sound of fireworks echoed, and red lanterns hung from the old trees overhead.

It all happened in a blink. The sun dipped behind the hills, and the windows of village houses began to glow with warm light.

Briony took a few tentative steps forward. The scene shifted-

She now stood before a quaint country cottage, its porch adorned with red lanterns. The ancient wooden door creaked open, and a slender figure stepped out into the twilight.

Her grandfather leaned against the doorframe, chin lifted ever so slightly, gazing toward her.

granddaughter, his eyes softened with affection. He smiled and waved. "Bryn, it's

eyes burned as she struggled not to

The word escaped her lips before she could help it, and tears slipped freely

pane of glass in the observation room, Marcus, Stewart,

control panel, closely

massive screen displayed the VR world as Briony experienced it —a faithful recreation of the countryside cottage where she'd lived with her grandfather as

is all grown up but still loves to play. It's New Year's

him inside

came

Briony froze.

a plate of freshly fried vegetable fritters, smiling as she waved her

chips the other day? That store-bought

trembled as she fought to hold

her mother managed to visit her in the countryside,

voice broke. "Mom, are

"We're just fine, honey. The only thing we

too hard to speak but still

good." Julia gestured at the table, laden with food. "Your grandpa and I cooked together