Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony was caught off guard by the question.

Little Mario had been sitting quietly on the couch, but the moment he heard Little Nina's words, his eyes turned red. He didn't cry, but there he was so small, perched on the edge of the sofa, his gaze brimming with silent sorrow. He looked utterly pitiful.

Noticing this, Briony gathered her daughter into her arms and moved to sit beside her son, holding both children close-one in each arm.

"Sweetheart, don't be sad," she murmured gently, her voice soft and reassuring. Everything had happened so suddenly; all she could do was comfort her little ones as best she could. "Daddy's just gone away for a while. But remember, no matter where he is, he'll always love you both very much."

Mario nestled against his mother, his voice barely above a whisper. "Will Daddy call us?"

"If he can, he'll call," Briony promised, stroking his hair. "But even if he's too busy to call, you can be sure he's thinking about you and missing you all the same."

Little Nina, her face buried against Briony's chest, began to cry, her small frame shaking. "Why does Daddy have to go overseas?" she sobbed. "He told me he'd take me to preschool. He said he'd help me prove to Daisy that he's cooler than her dad. But now he's gone..."

Briony hadn't known Stewart had made such a promise to their daughter.

Little Nina might have only been four, but she took promises to heart. If Stewart didn't keep his word, it was the kind of thing she'd remember for a long, long time -maybe even forever.

The truth was, she still had no idea what was really going on with Stewart. But deep down, she had

his own person. Sometimes, grown-ups have things they have to

from all her crying. Her eyelids drooped, her energy

"He loves you both so much. He couldn't ever forget you.

her mother's

finally seemed to relax.

worn out, though,

her tired eyes with

drifting off

holding Little Nina in one arm, while her other hand gently ruffled

he nodded, silent

his lip, trying to hold back his feelings,

pulled him closer. "I'm right here, Mario. You

words, Mario's lower lip trembled. Before the tears could fall, he buried his face in the crook of Briony's arm.