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.

was, she still had

her daughter. "Little Nina, I know Daddy is your and Mario's daddy, but he's also his own person. Sometimes, grown-ups have things they have to do. No matter what happens, your daddy will always love you and Mario -nothing

Nina lay limply on Briony's shoulder, exhausted from all her crying. Her eyelids drooped, her energy spent. "Daddy won't forget about

not. You and Mario are his precious little ones," Briony soothed. "He loves you both so much. He couldn't ever forget you. You just have to

mother's

finally seemed to

worn out, though,

tired eyes

before drifting off

arm, while her other hand gently ruffled Mario's hair. "Mario, are you

dark eyes stared up at her. Then he nodded, silent tears threatening to spill. "I don't

trying to hold back his feelings, not wanting to

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

could fall, he buried his face in