Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

When Cedric Clarke arrived with Stella, the doors of the emergency room swung open just as they reached them.

Dr. Warren stepped out, peeling off his mask, his face grave as he shook his

head.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could."

For a moment, it was as if the world fell utterly silent.

Gwendolyn White's knees buckled, and James caught her just in time. "Mrs. Winslow!"

"Bryn... our Bryn..." Gwendolyn sobbed into her hands, her cries breaking the quiet. "She's so young-how could she just leave us like this? No, it's not possible -Dr. Warren, please, there must be something more you can do, please..."

"Mrs. Winslow, I'm truly sorry. We really did all we could."

Stewart stood frozen, rooted to the spot.

He barely heard Dr. Warren's gentle, clinical explanations-the medical reasons why Briony couldn't be saved. Gwendolyn refused to accept it, her wailing echoing in his ears.

Stewart, too, couldn't believe it.

Briony dead? It couldn't be.

A strange, fractured smile curled at the edge of his lips, though his eyes were rimmed with red. "No. I don't believe it..."

He murmured the words, pushing past Dr. Warren and heading toward the emergency room.

Seeing this, Cedric released Stella and hurried to intercept him, grabbing Stewart by the arm. "What are you doing?"

clung to him like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. "Thank

him. "Stewart, you need to

it. She must be. She

for custody, so she's playing dead to escape. She hates me

his tone grave. "This is a reputable hospital. They

back, his eyes wild. "Her daughter's all she cares about now. If I just take her back

muttered as if possessed,

"Stewart!"

the shoulders. "Open your

Stewart turned-

of the emergency

body lay still on the

pupils shrank to

his head, his tall frame suddenly

over Briony's body, sobbing. "Bryn, Bryn, wake up! If you're gone, your little girl will have

broke down, tears streaming as his trembling hands gently lifted

horror, a crushing pain squeezing her chest. She dropped to her knees, clutching her heart, and broke down sobbing

echoed down

untouched by

slept, now

more pain, no more sorrow-nothing in this world could ever hurt

face again. "Go on, Bryn. I know you're tired. Go quickly, catch up to your little one, and find your mother. When you're all together again, remember

Stella sobbed

only that it felt as if

stare in numb

pain shot through his chest, as if someone had fired a bullet straight into his heart. He could almost feel blood welling up

He coughed harsh, wet.