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?"

for a

trying to steady him. "Stewart, you

She just wants to get

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

firmly, his tone grave.

care!" Stewart jerked back, his eyes 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

possessed, turning toward the neonatal

"Stewart!"

him by the shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look- look at what's

Stewart turned-

of the emergency

on the gurney, shrouded

shrank

frame suddenly frozen as

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

down, tears streaming as his trembling

Stella stared, her own eyes wide with horror, a crushing pain squeezing her chest. She dropped to her knees, clutching her

echoed down

untouched by the

slept, now and

sorrow-nothing in

gently covered Briony's 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 to send your

Stella

sharp, only that it felt as if her heart

could only stare

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

He coughed harsh, wet.