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

Stella and Aster around to keep

worry on his brow had started to smooth out. She figured things must be

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

went wide.

him, standing up. Then she caught sight of the figure outside and

she abandoned her Barbie, flung her

both of his children into a

himself shyly against his father's shoulder, eyes glistening. In

he asked, "Daddy, does it still

to look

it felt like a blade twisted in his chest, stealing

had known he

gentle hand, Stewart ruffled Mario's hair, then pressed a soft kiss to

fine now, buddy. Don't

tight to his father's

watched

hands on her hips and stomped her foot.

hurried to

you both just

warm and soft-the kind that