Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

They didn't reach Capitalis until well past eight in the evening.

The journey had been mostly uneventful.

Mr. Seven had sent Mr. Hoffman to meet them at the harbor.

When Mr. Hoffman saw Blair carrying the frail, hollow-cheeked Briony in his arms, even he―no stranger to dire situations-couldn't hide the shock flickering across his face.

"This is classic liver and kidney poisoning, Ms. Kensington," he pronounced gravely.

Briony drifted between sleep and wakefulness, her mind foggy. She could hear Blair and Mr. Hoffman talking about her, their voices low and urgent, but she couldn't make out more than a few words before the exhaustion pulled her under again.

Mr. Hoffman led them to Orchid Manor, one of Mr. Seven's private residences-a sprawling estate with its own security team, tucked safely away from prying eyes.

Blair carried Briony upstairs to the master bedroom on the second floor and laid her gently on the bed.

Mr. Hoffman sat down at her bedside and took her wrist, checking her pulse. It was just as he feared.

His expression grew heavy. "The toxins have reached her liver," he said quietly. Blair's heart clenched, his throat tightening. "Can you cure her?"

Mr. Hoffman shook his head, frustration in his voice. "Whoever did this knows their way around poisons. They used conflicting compounds, dosing her day after day, until the reactions built up and the toxins settled in her liver. Now her spleen's been compromised, and if it fails, her body won't absorb nutrients. If we can't neutralize the poison, she'll slowly waste away-her mind fading, her body slipping into emptiness."

sway under

help her?" he asked, desperation leaking into

didn't sound hopeful. "But in her state, she might not survive the trial and error. Poisons like this are nearly impossible to treat unless you know the exact recipe.

figure out exactly what

Ferdinand had done this

Briony dead. He wanted her unable to live

his eyes. "Mr. Hoffman, please take

Hoffman stood, his concern

to

"You can't! If you go now, everything we've worked for will be lost. All

jaw tightened, eyes squeezed shut. "Mr. Hoffman, I owe her. Let me do

torn, but

think this through. We need

a moment's pause, Blair nodded.

stepped out,

bed,