Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"I'm going to find Stewart."

Rosita's face was tense, her eyes red and swollen, as if she'd been crying

moments before. "Mom, if I don't go now, Ms. Kensington is going to take Stewart from me!"

"What's going on?"

"I'll explain when I get back. Zack, get the car."

Zack hurried off to the garage to bring the car around.

Rosita rushed outside, practically throwing herself into the back seat.

As Lauren watched the car disappear down the drive, she grew increasingly uneasy. She called for a housekeeper to keep an eye on the kids, then hurried back into the house herself.

At the hospital, in Dr. Cedric Clarke's private office.

Stewart stood by the window, a cigarette pinched between his fingers, inhaling silently, one drag after another.

He wasn't much of a smoker-hardly ever, really.

But since he'd walked in, he'd already finished two cigarettes.

And it hadn't even been ten minutes.

Cedric finally had enough. When Stewart reached for a third, Cedric strode over, snatched the pack from his hand, and tossed it straight into the trash.

you can't smoke in

scowled, his cold

Cedric hated that look.

could smoke yourself into a chimney today, but it still wouldn't change

let out a short, bitter

think I'm a

you are. I don't

years of marriage, and you still let

eyes lowering. "No wonder she

Cedric frowned. "What question?"

that old church on the coast, she asked me, 'Stewart, do you

I think I remember that," Cedric replied, puzzled. "But what

"She also lost a child I never even got

Cedric fell silent.

easier. Stewart had already filled in

it." Stewart's voice turned cold, almost cruel. "Maybe that was for

"Are you out of your mind? What the hell is wrong with you? That was your child! Stewart, if you say anything like that again,

out the window, his eyes as lifeless as a winter

"Stewart!"

knock some sense

But Stewart didn't flinch.