Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Julia stifled a yawn, her eyelids heavy with sleep.

Briony blinked back tears and gently coaxed Julia into her bedroom, tucking her in

for a nap.

Only after Julia had drifted off did Briony quietly slip out of the room.

The sound of running water drifted from the kitchen.

Briony headed toward it.

Inside, Ferdinand was rinsing out the bowl Julia had used to take her medicine. He stood tall and lean, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, broad- shouldered and long-legged.

Briony hurried in. "Mr. Ellsworth, you really shouldn't be washing dishes. Please, let me "

"It's just a bowl." Ferdinand dodged her outstretched hand, his tone easy. "No trouble at all."

Briony pressed her lips together and withdrew her hand. "Thank you. I'm sorry for burdening you with all this these past days."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Aren't we friends?"

She hesitated, meeting his questioning gaze, and gave a helpless nod. "We are, but-"

"Friends help each other. That's perfectly normal." His voice was low and gentle. "Is Mrs. Hudson asleep?"

Briony's lips curved in a tired smile. "She lay down and was out in minutes."

touch." Ferdinand turned off the tap, dried the bowl with a paper towel, and set it in the dish rack. "Let's

made their way to the living room,

people and surroundings give Mrs. Hudson a sense of security," Ferdinand said after a pause. "That's a huge help for her recovery. But right now, you're the only one

true-she couldn't realistically stay by her mother's

went on, "You've got Little Nina to look after, and your job. None of us can say how long Mrs. Hudson's treatment will take.

thought

mother before and was a familiar, comforting

hesitation, Briony called

was alive, she agreed at once to come to Silverlake City to help

to the airport

filled her

down Gina's face as she clasped her hands, whispering, "Thank heavens, there really is justice in this world! Good things do

and, not finding Briony, grew anxious. To distract her, Ferdinand switched

like a child. As long as nothing upset her, she was usually easy to

returned with Gina, Julia and Ferdinand were sitting together on the

cartoon played on

stood and gave Gina a

of him. She grinned and boomed, "Ms. Kensington, is this your new boyfriend? He's even more handsome than Attorney Wentworth or

let out a silent

moment, then offered a warm smile. "Gina, you have quite the sense of humor.

gentle response eased Briony's

"this is my mother's current physician-Dr.

He was the last student of the renowned

in realization. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Dr. Ellsworth!

Please don't mind