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."

murmured the words, barely audible. James caught only a fragment and leaned in, his voice low, "What did

"It's nothing."

river. "It's

night was so dark he couldn't make out the expression

to Skybreeze Retreat, they found Stella already

Stella sitting on the floor, playing puzzles with

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

tried to reassure her with a small smile. "Why did

happened, of course I had to come!" Stella replied. "I brought the nanny too. Cedric's going to be swamped with work for the next few days, and there's not much else I can do at least I can keep you and the kids

and Carl are the ones who'll be busy. There's not much happening on

did, she might have been fooled by her

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

pulled Briony into a bedroom and

without a word, Stella pulled her into a tight hug.

a few seconds, then gently pushed her

studying

I'm not

blinked. "You really hate

shook her head. "The

my feelings

heart

turned to look out

the glass, the night was pitch black, nothing

sounded soft, almost fragile, in the

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

"You still care

Briony didn't deny it.