Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

She glanced at the master bedroom door, shut tight as always, and a flicker of disappointment passed over her face.

Ever since Irwin started elementary school, Stewart had come home less and less.

Irwin, at least, tried to be understanding. He knew that Stewart had become even busier after taking over The Wentworth Group, and so he stopped crying and pleading for Stewart to come home to spend time with him.

When Stewart did come back, he'd talk with Irwin for a bit, and then either retreat to his study or lock himself away in the master bedroom.

Jeannie barely got a chance to exchange a few words with him.

Thinking about it, Jeannie sighed quietly to herself.

Inside the master bedroom, Stewart stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from his shower, just as his phone began to ring. Cedric Clarke's name flashed on the

screen.

He answered, and Cedric's voice came through immediately. "Lauren came in for tests at our hospital today. It's late-stage pancreatic cancer."

A faint smile tugged at Stewart's lips. "Does Gavin know?"

"She went alone-she's HIV-positive, there's no way she'd let Gavin come to the hospital with her!"

Cedric paused, then added, "But she's been with Gavin for four years. Odds are, he won't escape unscathed either. I'm not saying I feel sorry for Gavin, but honestly, I do pity Mrs. Prescott a little."

"I warned Jason," Stewart replied coolly. "If he's not a fool, he'll know to make arrangements for Mrs. Prescott in advance."

Cedric let out a sigh, about to say more, when the wailing of a child echoed in the background.

"Gotta go. The baby's crying again-I need to calm him down..."

The call ended abruptly.

stared at his phone, the sound of the child's

hand

stretched on, long and

Silverlake Town.

the night's veil, and the old town slowly woke from its

scattering across the uneven

the winding alleys, the occasional crow of a rooster or bark of a dog mingled with the faint rush of the river

smoke curling into the morning fog, filling the air with the comforting scent

on the east side of the second floor, an alarm sounded from the bedside table-its recording was right on cue: "Ring ring, ring

voice

big bed, a little girl frowned in her sleep, rolled over, and snuggled deeper

daughter close and pressed a gentle

sweetheart is still

sweet, unmistakably cranky from

pat. "It's Monday, darling. Remember, you promised your teacher you wouldn't be late

crinkling into sleepy slits, lips pouting. "Then give me a

rosy cheek. "Alright, time to get up and help Mommy with

"Okay!"

Nina wriggled out from under the covers, slid into her cartoon slippers, and scampered off to the bathroom. Soon, her childish singing echoed from the bathroom: "I'll turn the world upside down, chase the wind and fire between the

unable to stop

really was obsessed with

brushing my teeth! And

bed

doted on her daughter, but still tried to teach