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."

James caught only a fragment and leaned in,

"It's nothing."

kept her eyes on the river. "It's getting late.

so dark he couldn't make out the expression on

returned to Skybreeze Retreat, they found

on the

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

reassure her with a small smile. "Why did you come over? Where's

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

be busy. There's not much happening on my end. You really didn't need to make

didn't know Briony as well as she did,

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

into a bedroom

tight hug. "Cry if

a few seconds, then

frowned, studying

sighed. "Star, I'm not feeling that

"You really hate

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

my feelings

what, your heart

turned to look

the glass, the night was pitch black,

almost fragile, in

you grieve or not doesn't change anything. I'm not devastated by

her hand. "You

Briony didn't deny it.