Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart's hand clenched into a fist at his side, as if her words had struck something deep inside him.

"It's a pity-you're wrong," he said quietly.

Briony stared at him, her eyes brimming with scorn.

"If you truly understood the legend behind the Ghanaian divorce ritual, you'd realize just how absurd this little ceremony you've arranged really is."

His voice was low and heavier than she'd ever heard. "I just... wanted us to have something to remember. A way to mark what we had."

He searched her face, desperate, his gaze taking on a wild glint. "Briony, after five years of marriage, you can't tell me there's nothing left between us."

"Something between us?" Briony gave a sharp, bitter laugh, her eyes flashing with unshed tears. "Stewart, now that you realize you can't use my bond with Irwin to sway me, you want to play the 'husband and wife' card instead?"

Stewart's jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on hers.

She continued, voice cold and unwavering: "But when was there ever love between us, Stewart?"

stopped breathing for

as they were on their wedding day-to the place where they began their marriage. The ritual is about going back to

distance between them. "But Stewart, we never loved each other. We never even had a real wedding. So this whole charade of a divorce ritual? It's nothing but

came out. In the end, he could only stand there

final. "From now on, Stewart, you're nothing to me but the man who

One look was all she gave

can't keep pretending he's my son. So

that, Briony turned away and strode toward

but he was a moment

his fingers, leaving his hand empty-and

"Mom, where are you going? I'm sorry, I promise I'll be good! Please don't leave

Her steps were

nodding in silent support. Briony took the lighter Stella

beach, where her wedding dress lay