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?"

like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. "Thank God you're here!

to steady him. "Stewart, you need to calm

faking it. She must be. She just wants to get away from

I'll fight her for custody, so she's playing dead to escape. She hates me that much-of course she'd go to

firmly, his tone grave. "This is a reputable hospital.

about now. If I just

if possessed, turning toward

"Stewart!"

shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look-

Stewart turned-

was being wheeled out of the emergency room

on the gurney, shrouded in

pupils shrank to

his tall frame suddenly frozen

over Briony's body, sobbing. "Bryn, Bryn, wake up! If you're gone, your little girl will have no mother-how could you do this?

broke down, tears streaming as his trembling hands gently lifted the edge of

it, Briony's face 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

motionless, untouched

now

more sorrow-nothing in this world

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

Gwendolyn's words, Stella

why the pain was so sharp, only that it

only stare in numb

He could almost feel blood welling up from the wound, flooding his chest with agony. His tall frame

He coughed harsh, wet.