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.

as if struck by lightning.

but someone grabbed her

back. "She's not in her right mind. She doesn't recognize anyone. Don't get too close—she lashes

eyes. She looked at Farrah desperately. "She's my

Of course it's good for you to take

"Why? Why is she like this? What

wish I knew. Four years ago, the fishermen found her washed up on the shore, barely alive. They sent my husband to check on her. He's a kind man he brought her back here. She had a terrible fever for a week. The island doctor

her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It took all my

the more

was all

had lost her

years, living

away and moved toward the woman in the corner-her mother,

and stopped her. "Didn't you hear what she said? Mrs. Hudson isn't herself. She could hurt

at him, her voice cold. "She's my mother.

living, breathing person-not an animal. She didn't

grabbing her arm again, his grip unyielding.