Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Jeannie gently coaxed Irwin back into bed, then lay down beside him, softly humming a lullaby.

It didn't take long before Irwin drifted off to sleep again.

Once she was sure he was sound asleep, Jeannie quietly slipped out of bed and

left the room.

She went next door and picked up her phone, glancing at the time.

A little after 2 a.m.-hardly an appropriate hour to call her employer.

But the matter was too important for her to care about propriety.

Jeannie dialed Stewart's number.

He answered almost immediately.

"Ms. Radcliffe." Stewart's deep voice came through the line. "Did Irwin have another nightmare?"

Jeannie felt her cheeks flush, her heart still pounding. She steadied herself and answered respectfully, "I'm sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Wentworth."

She hesitated, then continued, "Irwin did have another nightmare. This time it was worse than before he cried harder, kept saying he saw his mother covered in blood. While I was comforting him, he let a few things slip..."

The next morning, just after nine, the specialists Hannah had contacted arrived.

Three technicians showed up, dressed in protective gear and carrying professional equipment. They checked every inch of Briony's office and lounge, inside and out.

Half an hour later, the results were in.

No traces of high radiation were found anywhere.

Hannah called Briony with the update.

Briony was surprised when she heard the news.

and turned to James, who looked

shook her head. "Hannah said they

thorough-nothing gets past her." "So, were we wrong?" James huffed. "Guess that kid

pressed her lips together and sighed. "Now we're back to square one. No leads

is that you're safe. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the twins. That's what's important." Briony gave him a faint smile. "What

"Don't

couldn't help

Northborough, the law offices.

knocked on the

"Come in."

inside, closed the door behind him, and walked over to the desk, placing a metal box on

I found

at the box. "Was it

whole time, but luckily the stone was

technician was quick-got it out before

box, but Carl quickly warned, "Sir,

"I know."

Stewart opened the box.

stone

examined it for a moment before snapping

young-easily manipulated by Lauren-and hadn't realized how dangerous the stone was. When Stewart explained it

If Ms. Kensington already suspects Lauren, why

the one who put the stone under Briony's bed. If she ever found out, do you think she'd ever look at Irwin the same

eyes widened in

protecting

have been cracking down on these stones for years. If

you these energy stones were mostly smuggled in from Southeast Asia, and getting them through customs was far from

would never have gotten her hands on something like this

a way to return this little gift to Lauren," Stewart said, tapping the cold metal box with his finger. "And make sure it's done

nodded at

The Lockwood estate.