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

together-dressed as they were on their wedding day-to the place where they began their marriage. The ritual

distance between them. "But Stewart, we never loved each other. We never even had a real wedding. So

came out. In

were icy, final.

boy sitting off to the side. One look was all

pretending he's my son. So from now on, please take care

away and strode toward the

her, Stewart reached out instinctively, but he was a moment too

fingers, leaving his hand empty-and his heart emptier

Irwin's tearful cry echoed through the church. "Mom, where are you going? I'm sorry, I promise I'll be good! Please don't

look back. Her steps were

doors, Stella was waiting for her, nodding in silent support.

the beach, where her wedding dress lay abandoned on