Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony pulled out her phone and turned on the flashlight.

"There's no signal," she said, glancing over at Carl.

Carl was already tapping at his own phone, but his efforts were just as futile-no bars, not even a flicker.

He raised his phone, shining its light at the elevator's camera. His expression was grim. "The whole car's lost power."

It was the height of summer. In a sealed elevator with no electricity, if no one found them soon, they could easily pass out from lack of air in a matter of hours.

"Carl, this isn't some random malfunction." Briony met Carl's eyes, her certainty unwavering. "Someone doesn't want me at that board meeting."

Carl knew there was no point in hiding the truth anymore. Briony wouldn't believe him if he tried.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Ms. Kensington, I'm sorry. I should've anticipated this. I've dragged you into it."

"This isn't your fault." Briony closed her eyes for a moment, collecting herself. "Right now, you should be worrying whether Stewart can handle that board meeting alone."

Carl paused, taken aback. Then, with a helpless smile, he shook his head. "It's out of our hands now."

gaze, her

world, all they could do now

each other for the first time in twenty-five years. There was no warmth or sentiment,

was dressed in a sharp black suit, his hair perfectly

doing for the past twenty-five years, he clearly

his gaze cold as

Fred, or would

you? No respect for your elders." Fred's eyes

same look

years ago. I was seven when I carried his portrait, knelt at his grave, and said may goodbyes. As far as I'm concerned, my father is

face darkened. "You're only sitting here because of me. If you don't want to acknowledge me as your father, I couldn't care less. But I'm taking

made no attempt to hide his

man sitting opposite him wasn't his son at

Fred could do or

hated that about him

had come begging for help, Stewart had looked at

you hadn't stood by and done nothing, do you think I'd be here now,