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."

caught only a fragment and leaned in, his voice

"It's nothing."

kept her eyes on the river. "It's

was so dark he couldn't make out the expression

Skybreeze Retreat, they

to see Stella sitting on the floor, playing

Stella saw her, she jumped up and hurried over, worry etched across

fine," Briony tried to reassure her with a small

with work for the next

Dr. Clarke and Carl are the ones who'll be busy. There's not much happening on my end. You really didn't

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

upstairs with me," Stella said, tugging Briony up to the

into a bedroom and closed

without a word, Stella pulled her into a tight hug. "Cry if you want.

a few seconds, then gently

studying

I'm not feeling

blinked. "You really

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

my feelings

what, your heart died

turned to look

night was pitch black, nothing visible

sounded soft, almost

dies, that's it. Whether you grieve or not doesn't change anything. I'm not devastated by Stewart's death. It just

"You still care

Briony didn't deny it.