Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"No," Briony replied with a soft smile. "Honestly, she's not that bad."

"Not that bad?" James shot her a quick glance as he drove. "Bryn, you really ought to get yourself a scam detector app or something."

Briony couldn't help but laugh at his teasing. "Why are you so hostile toward her?"

"She bullies you!"

"That was all just for show."

"For show?" James gave a derisive snort. "Even if it's just an act, I still don't like her!"

"Come on, James, don't be like that. She grew up in foster care. Everything that happened before, she and Stewart were working together."

"Even so..." The memory of her and Barrie acting so close still left a sour taste in his mouth, and his expression only darkened.

Still, his upbringing was strict-he'd been taught better than to gossip behind someone's back, especially someone who wasn't even a friend. No matter what he thought about Lorna using her looks to finish a job, he knew better than to judge her out loud. That just wasn't right.

When they arrived back at Skybreeze Retreat, Carl Shaw had just dropped off little Mario and little Nina, with Carol in tow.

Stewart had already paid Carol's salary for the next ten years-she'd signed the decade-long contract. As soon as Carol saw Briony and James pull up, she greeted them warmly and respectfully, then opened the trunk of the Maybach and began unloading bag after bag.

bought for the kids, most of them for

today, little Mario

been a week since Briony had seen the kids. Now, as soon

"Mama~!"

"Mama!"

in her arms, showering them with kisses. All the

side, James cleared his throat dramatically. "Well, look

then rushed over with her arms stretched out. "Godfather,

that you have a real dad, you don't

"Godfather will always be my favorite godfather! I only have one dad, but I also only

himself, Well, at least my

me up!" He tapped her little nose. "But since you're

with it."

SV

as

little Mario walked over and tugged at James's