Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The Clarke family knew a reputable spiritual advisor. Arranging the burial plot fell to Cedric Clarke.

By the time they left the police station, the rain had finally stopped.

Cedric unlocked the car and turned to Briony. "Are you going to the funeral?"

"I'll go on behalf of the children," she replied.

Cedric pressed his lips together, nodded, and slid into the driver's seat. The car pulled away, leaving the others behind.

Carl was inconsolable. This six-foot-tall man crouched on the curb beside the black Maybach, his broad shoulders trembling as he sobbed like a lost child.

Watching him, James let out a heavy sigh. "Carl truly was loyal to Stewart, right to the end."

Briony walked over, rummaged through her purse, and handed Carl a packet of tissues. "Here-wipe your face. You need to pull yourself together. Stewart's gone, but the firm is still here. He trusted you deeply. You have to honor that and keep the practice running."

Carl stared at her in surprise, then his grief erupted anew.

"Ms. Kensington, our Mr. Wentworth is gone-he's really gone..."

Briony remained unchanged, her expression calm and unreadable.

stretched long across the wet pavement. The light caught her face, hiding

Even if she no longer loved him, they'd known each other for years, raised children together-how could

If Mr. Wentworth could hear, he'd come back to haunt

only deepened. He buried his head in his hands, overcome. "Mr. Wentworth was planning to go to Switzerland for treatment. Why-why

sense of it. All he

slim cigarette. She held it between elegant fingers, but didn't bother to take a drag. Staring at Briony's unwavering calm, Lorna finally snapped. She flung the cigarette to the damp ground, where the

she grabbed Briony's arm and spun her

Lorna's eyes were red as she searched Briony's

there was nothing. No hint of pain broke through Briony's gentle, distant

laugh, her eyes shining with tears. "Briony,

even if he hurt you a thousand times, he's dead. Doesn't that mean anything to

Briony didn't argue.

James rushed over, stepping

them and shielding Briony. "Enough, torna! Bryn doesn't owe her ex-husband a public display of

reason she's here tonight is for the children. Attending Stewart's funeral is more than anyone could ask

stared at James,