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 God you're here! They say Briony's dead. That's

him. "Stewart, you

be. She just wants to get away

she's playing dead to escape. She hates me that much-of course she'd

enough," Cedric said firmly, his tone grave. "This is a reputable hospital. They

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

if possessed, turning toward the

"Stewart!"

by the shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look-

Stewart turned-

of the emergency room by

the gurney,

shrank

his tall frame suddenly frozen as if turned to

your little girl will have no mother-how could you

trembling hands gently lifted the edge of

was peaceful, her eyes closed, lips just barely parted. Stella stared, her own eyes wide with horror, a crushing pain squeezing her chest. She

echoed down the sterile

lay motionless, untouched

slept, now and

no more sorrow-nothing in this world could

know you're tired. Go quickly, catch up to your little one, and find your

Gwendolyn's words, Stella sobbed even

didn't understand why the pain was so sharp, only that it felt

could only stare in

bullet straight into his heart. He could almost feel blood welling up

He coughed harsh, wet.