Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"What is it you really want, Ferdinand?"

"I've already told you-I want to marry you."

"That's never going to happen." Briony's stare was icy. "Don't try to become another Fred, Ferdinand."

"I'm nothing like him." Ferdinand's gaze didn't waver as he gently traced her chin with his thumb. "Bryn, you saved my life. I would never treat you the way my father treated my mother. If you'll just stay by my side, I swear I'll give you the very best of everything."

Briony didn't flinch. "I don't love you. I could never marry you."

"Love can grow." Ferdinand's voice was soft but insistent. "You were married to Stewart in secret for five years-you didn't fall for him right away, did you? I know you, Bryn. You have a gentle heart. If we live together for a few years, I know you'll come to love me too."

Briony frowned, realizing that Ferdinand's obsession with her had more to do with Stewart than with anything else.

Maybe, deep down, Stewart had always been his imaginary rival.

"Ferdinand, I lost faith in marriage a long time ago. I like my life as it is now. I don't love Stewart anymore, and you don't have to force me into marrying you just to prove you're better than him."

"You really think this is all about Stewart?"

"It doesn't matter, does it?" Briony let out a weary sigh. "What matters is that what you're doing is making me miserable. Ferdinand, if you keep pushing me, all you'll end up with is a corpse."

"You'd really do that?" Ferdinand let out a cold laugh. "You still have two wonderful children. Would you really leave them behind?"

aren't my whole world. Marriage and love-they're just extra baggage to

I don't want to." Ferdinand's eyes locked onto hers. "I want you to love me, Bryn. You managed to love Stewart for

was no point

clearly gone off the deep

had

something wrong with Fred's

to walk around the estate as you like, but don't even think about running-there's

Ferdinand released her and

didn't bother to close the door. Briony watched his retreating

grip had

what he'd said, she guessed she

must be the Sanctonia

was probably here

really had gone

was

bear