Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

James didn't say another word. He turned and walked away.

...

On the way back, Briony suddenly said she wanted to stop by Pearbrook.

James pulled the car over by the roadside near the river.

He walked with her across the crosswalk and onto the sidewalk that bordered Pearbrook.

Late summer nights after a storm always carried a sticky dampness to the city. The river ran swift, its waters churning rather than calm.

The rain had only just let up. There was no one else by the river.

Briony stood gazing out at the dark water, silent for a long time.

James simply stayed by her side, keeping quiet.

Across Pearbrook was Briony's new home; just a crosswalk separated them from

it.

The damp night breeze tugged at her long hair.

Briony lifted a hand to brush the strands from her cheek.

Cedric Clarke's words from the police station echoed in her mind-

[Stewart always said he didn't want a funeral. He just asked me to scatter his ashes in Pearbrook. But now...]

"But now there's nothing left. His last wish can't even be fulfilled."

words, barely audible. James caught only a fragment and leaned in, his

"It's nothing."

the river.

was so dark he

returned to Skybreeze Retreat, they found Stella

sitting on the

she jumped up and hurried over, worry etched across her face. "Are

a small smile. "Why did you come

everything that's happened, of course I had to come!" Stella replied. "I brought the nanny too. Cedric's going to be swamped with work

Carl are the ones who'll be busy. There's not much happening on my end. You really didn't need to make

Stella didn't know Briony as well as she did, she might have been fooled by

with me," Stella said, tugging Briony up to the second floor without waiting

a bedroom

Stella pulled her into a tight hug. "Cry if you want.

for a few seconds,

frowned, studying her

not

really

hate." Briony shook her head. "The moment I heard he was gone, it

my feelings

heart died with

to look

the glass, the night was pitch black, nothing

voice sounded soft, almost fragile, in the quiet

not devastated by Stewart's death. It just feels... unresolved. It shouldn't have

"You

Briony didn't deny it.