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."

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

left the kitchen and made their way to the

sense of security," Ferdinand said after a pause. "That's a huge help for her

his words. It was true-she couldn't realistically stay by her mother's

your job. None of us can say how long Mrs.

Briony thought

before and was a familiar, comforting

Briony

alive, she agreed at once to come to Silverlake City

day, Briony went to the airport to pick Gina

Briony filled her in on Julia's

her hands, whispering, "Thank heavens, there really is justice in this world! Good things

from her nap and, not finding Briony, grew anxious. To distract her,

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

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

played

and gave

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

let out a

a moment, then offered a warm smile. "Gina, you have quite the sense of humor. No wonder Ms. Kensington still thinks so highly of

response eased

"this is my

was the last student of

widened in realization. "Oh, I'm so

Please don't mind