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?"

breathing

ritual is for couples who once loved each other. After their feelings have faded, they return together-dressed as they were on their wedding day-to the place where they

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

came out. In the end, he could only stand

years of pretending to be a mother to Irwin-it all ends today." Briony's words were icy, final. "From now on, Stewart, you're nothing to me but the man who indirectly caused my mother's death. We're better off never seeing each

side. One look was all she gave him before

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

and strode

her, Stewart reached out instinctively, but he was

slipped through his fingers, leaving his hand empty-and

church. "Mom, where are you going? I'm

look back. Her

for her, nodding in silent support. Briony took the

to the edge of the beach, where her wedding dress lay abandoned on