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.

know you can't smoke in a

his cold gaze flicking over

Cedric hated that look.

into a chimney today, but it still

let out a short, bitter laugh—a sound closer to a sigh than real

think I'm

rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you are. I

and you still let Briony

his narrow eyes lowering. "No wonder she asked me that

Cedric frowned. "What question?"

old church on the coast, she asked me, 'Stewart,

think I remember that," Cedric replied,

just lose Ms. Hudson," Stewart said, closing his eyes as his voice tightened, "She also lost a child I never even got to meet." His throat worked as he swallowed hard. "That's why she hates

Cedric fell silent.

that made things easier. Stewart had

it's better that the baby didn't make it." Stewart's voice turned cold, almost

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

telling the truth." Stewart stared out the window, his eyes as lifeless as

"Stewart!"

Stewart by the collar, his voice breaking with anger. "Say that again and I'll knock some sense into you! That was your own child! Even if you don't love Briony anymore,

But Stewart didn't flinch.