Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"I'm heading out, too." Cedric Clarke left the office with Lawyer Hughes.

Ferdinand turned to his own attorney. "Wait for me downstairs."

The lawyer nodded, then slipped out, leaving the door to click softly behind him.

Briony crossed to her desk, settled into her chair, and opened her laptop. Without looking up, she said evenly, "If there's nothing else, Mr. Ellsworth, you should go. I have work to finish."

Ferdinand lingered, his gaze flickering with emotions she couldn't quite name. "Bryn, will we ever see each other again?"

Briony met his eyes, calm and unflinching.

"Ferdinand, I don't think there's any reason for us to stay in touch."

Something in Ferdinand's expression tightened. "You're still upset with me, aren't you?"

"I'm not angry," Briony replied, her tone steady. "I just don't want any more involvement with the Wentworth Group. We all make our choices, Ferdinand. Becoming CEO was yours. Cutting ties-that's mine."

For a moment, Ferdinand couldn't breathe. He stared at her, lips pressed tight, fists clenched at his sides. But he didn't argue.

...

After that day, life seemed to drift quietly back to normal.

Ferdinand took the contract with him and left behind a hundred million.

Neither Fred nor Ferdinand showed up in Briony's life again.

restoring artifacts, making trips to

stayed at Skybreeze Retreat. With Stella and Aster around to keep

the lines of worry on his brow had started to smooth out. She figured things must be looking

day at Skybreeze Retreat, Stewart's Maybach rolled up the drive once

his father's car. His big, dark eyes went wide. Forgetting all about his half-built Lego tower, he bolted

Little Nina called after him, standing up. Then she caught sight of the

moment later, she abandoned her Barbie, flung her arms

of his children into a

against his father's shoulder,

asked, "Daddy,

froze, then bent his head to look at his son's

a blade twisted in his chest, stealing his

known he

hair, then pressed a soft

fine now,

lip trembled. He clung tight to his

watched the

flared. She planted her hands on her hips and stomped her foot. "Daddy, that's not fairlyYou're whispering secrets to

blinked, then hurried to reassure

love you both just the same, you and Mario. I

voice gentled, warm and soft-the kind that could