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.

easily: inspecting renovations, restoring artifacts, making trips to Starlight

kids, meanwhile, stayed at Skybreeze Retreat. With Stella and Aster around to keep them company,

left early and came home late, but Briony noticed that the lines of worry

Mario's eighth day at Skybreeze Retreat, Stewart's Maybach

the sound of his father's car. His big, dark eyes went wide. Forgetting all about his

up. Then she caught sight of the figure outside and her mouth formed a perfect

she abandoned her Barbie, flung her arms wide,

knelt and swept both of his

father's shoulder, eyes glistening. In a

"Daddy, does it still

bent his head to

instant, it felt like a blade twisted in his chest, stealing his

his son had known he was sick all

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

his head. "I'm fine now, buddy.

trembled. He clung tight to his

watched

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

then hurried to reassure his

you both just the same,

gentled, warm and soft-the kind that could melt