Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart sensed something was off. "What's going on?" he asked.

Judd glanced at Briony, then back to Stewart, his tone resigned. "The mayor meant well-he wanted to tidy up Mrs. Hudson a bit so her family wouldn't be upset when they saw her. But Mrs. Hudson refused to cooperate."

Briony's anxiety spiked. "What does that mean?" she pressed Judd. "What's happened to my mom?"

Judd looked uncertainly at Stewart.

A crease formed between Stewart's brows. "Take us to her."

"Alright. Come with me," Judd said, turning and leading the way toward a small gate at the edge of the yard.

The gate opened into the mayor's barn.

Briony hurried after him, hope flickering stubbornly in her chest. It couldn't be that bad, she told herself. It just couldn't.

But reality hit her hard the moment she stepped inside.

Huddled in the corner of the barn was a woman with sallow skin, her body curled in on itself. She wore tattered clothes, her hair tangled and matted with straw. Her face was so dirty that only her eyes were visible.

if struck by lightning. No... this couldn't

but someone

held her back. "She's not in her right mind. She doesn't recognize

She looked at Farrah desperately. "She's my mom. I'm here to take

you to take her away. But she's strong. Over these four years, she hasn't let anyone

Why is she like this? What happened to

to check on her. He's a kind man he brought her back here. She had a terrible fever

memory still vivid. "But when my husband and I got back from the station, she was gone. We searched everywhere and finally found her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It took

listened, the more hopeless

was all too

mother had lost her

living

moved toward the

hear what she said? Mrs. Hudson isn't herself. She could

voice cold. "She's my mother. Even if she hits me or bites me,

person-not an animal.

her arm again, his grip