Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Irwin's wailing instantly drew every pair of eyes in the room.

Briony's irritation was palpable. "Stewart, are you doing this on purpose?"

"I told you, Irwin's been acting out these last few days." Stewart's expression was calm, showing no sign of guilt or evasion.

"I'm not going to keep giving in to him." Briony's voice was icy. "I don't owe him anything."

Stewart frowned. "If he throws a tantrum, I can't calm him down either."

"Then have Carl take him to the car to wait."

Stewart turned to Carl.

Carl immediately stepped forward, arms outstretched. "Come on, buddy. Let's go wait in the car, okay?"

"I don't want to!"

Irwin slapped Carl's hands away and started crying even harder, his sobs echoing through the hall.

The commotion was so loud that even the staff came over to intervene.

"You already have a child together," one staff member said, trying to mediate. "Maybe talk things through? Look at how scared he is. As parents, you can't be so selfish-divorce always hurts the child most."

But Briony refused to budge.

Irwin kept crying, his voice hoarse as he pleaded, "Please don't get divorced, Mom and Dad!"

The staff looked at Irwin, their gazes heavy with reproach as they turned to Briony. "You're his mother. How can you stand to see your child in this state?"

Briony's patience snapped.

She looked straight at the staffer, her face cold. "I'm his stepmother. His real mother and father are getting back together. Isn't it reasonable for me to step aside and let them be?"

member

into a faint, sarcastic smile.

smile, then quietly retreated. At that moment, their number

"Let's go. Sign the

back. Stewart watched

began

don't

stopped in her tracks. By the time she turned around, Stewart had already scooped Irwin

was having an

the time Briony reached the entrance, she saw Stewart's car peel away from the curb,

stared at the number slip

like this too many times. Now,

tossed the slip in the trash, steeled her face, and

her studio, thoughts of the failed divorce swirling in her

now, she was certain-Stewart had no intention of letting

it was a

show. Only then could she be free, able to

could she possibly force

powerless she felt, as if her fate was out of her

right away. Instead, she slumped over the steering wheel and let

buzzed from inside her

It was Carney Winslow.

right away.

your recovery coming

able to restore the

wait." Carney paused. "I'm calling with some good

"I'm listening."

national arts council is making a documentary about artifact restoration. They asked me to recommend a young restorer, and I'd like to

Delaney is even younger than I am, and

mouth shut. This is a national broadcast. I think your temperament and skill are a