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?"

man reaching for a lifeline. "Thank God you're here! They say Briony's dead.

frowned, trying to steady him. "Stewart, you need

be. She just

out a strangled laugh. "She's probably terrified I'll fight her for custody, so she's playing dead to escape. She hates

Cedric said firmly, his tone grave. "This

wild. "Her daughter's all she cares about now. If I just take her back to Northborough, Briony'll come running. Yes, that's it-I'll bring her daughter home-she'll have to

possessed, turning toward

"Stewart!"

by the shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look-

Stewart turned-

wheeled out of the emergency

still on the

shrank

head, his tall frame suddenly frozen as if turned

wake up! If you're gone, your little girl will have no mother-how could you do

broke down, tears streaming as his trembling hands gently lifted

with horror, a crushing pain squeezing her

down the

untouched by

now and

sorrow-nothing in this world could ever hurt

up to your little one, and find your mother. When you're all together again, remember

words, Stella

why the pain was so sharp, only that it felt as if her heart had been torn

only stare in numb

had fired a bullet straight into his heart. He could almost feel

He coughed harsh, wet.