Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

After that day, Briony grew even more withdrawn.

Back when Autumn was looking after her, Briony would at least chat a little. Now, she barely spoke at all.

Sometimes she'd lie in bed, awake but silent. Other times, she'd just sit there, "looking" out the window, listening to the sound of the waves, lost in thought.

Both Autumn and Blair noticed something was wrong.

Autumn tried to engage her, searching for topics to draw her out, but Briony always seemed distracted, her answers scattered and unrelated.

Blair knew deep down that it was his secrecy that had shattered the last bit of trust and safety Briony felt.

He tried talking to her.

But Briony simply wouldn't respond.

She shut herself off more and more.

At first, she'd just avoid conversation. Then, gradually, she slipped into a pattern

of sleeping through day and night.

Blair realized she was spiraling.

After some inner struggle, he finally gave in.

This morning, as Briony woke, Blair walked in with her breakfast.

"You're awake, perfect timing for breakfast."

Briony said nothing.

Blair sat beside her, scooping up some warm porridge from the bowl and holding the spoon to her lips.

didn't open

"Once you've

paused, caught

nose tingled as her eyes stung with

eyes fill with tears, his own voice tightening. "I

she parted her lips just

of the warm, comforting porridge slipped

Almost immediately, she frowned.

"What's wrong?" Blair asked.

quietly, "Give me

feeding

taste, Briony was

lips together, silent for a long moment before whispering, "I

taste anything."

Blair froze.

added sugar," he

don't taste anything

all?"

"It seems I've lost my sense of taste,

refused to believe

a spoonful

was soft, sweet-he'd simmered it

she tasted

eyes reddening at

sight, now

had

Briony said, her tone oddly calm. Let me finish. I want to call my

afterward." Content belo, Let

to keep his

composure, scooped up another