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.

his granddaughter, his eyes softened with affection. He smiled

struggled not to blink.

her lips before she could help it, and tears

glass in the observation room, Marcus, Stewart,

complex control panel,

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

affectionately. "My Bryn is all grown up but still loves to play. It's New Year's Eve-I made all your

him inside the warmly

came another

Briony froze.

her mother, emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly fried vegetable fritters, smiling

say you were craving chips the other day? That store-bought stuff is full of additives.

as she fought to hold

managed to visit her in the countryside, she'd always make her those veggie

Her voice broke. "Mom, are you and Grandpa doing

honey. The only thing we ever

shook her head, crying too hard to speak but still insisting, "I'm fine. I'm

the table, laden with food. "Your grandpa and