Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart said nothing. He just cast a faint glance at James, then turned to Briony. "You're still going through with the divorce?"

Briony caught the edge of a threat in his tone.

Sure enough, his next words came cold and sharp: "Briony, we have a daughter. You shouldn't be so stubborn."

Briony let out a mocking laugh. "Four years ago, it was all about Irwin. Now, after all this time, you're using our daughter?"

"Irwin's different now. Jeannie Radcliffe's done a good job raising him-he's much more mature."

Briony almost found it funny.

"Stewart, what am I to you, really? Is tormenting me the only thing that makes you feel alive?"

Stewart frowned, about to retort, but just then, the teacher came out with the children.

Briony ignored him, turning away with James to look for Little Nina.

The moment Little Nina spotted them, she bounded over, grinning from ear to ear.

"Mama! Uncle James!"

Briony knelt down, gathering her daughter into her arms and planting a kiss on her soft, chubby cheek. "Did you miss me, sweetheart?"

"I missed you so much!" Little Nina kissed Briony's cheek in return, her eyes shining. "Mama, is Grandma Julia feeling any better?"

During the days Briony was caring for Julia, Gwendolyn White and the others had explained to Little Nina who Julia was.

Though she'd never met Julia, Little Nina understood: Grandma Julia was Mama's birth mother, her family-and that made her Little Nina's family, too.

Julia, and if Mama cared, so

that: loving someone because you love

might try to approach, James scooped Little Nina up in his arms, finally relaxing

gave a dismissive snort,

Briony nodded.

them—so much

James's arms, Little Nina's bright eyes darted around, and suddenly she spotted Stewart. Her mouth formed

weird man who showed up out of nowhere when

and James

Stewart had seen Little

They exchanged a glance.

"Sweetheart, did he say

"He asked my name."

did you

as could be. "I thought maybe he was a kidnapper-since I'm so cute, he might want to steal

Briony was momentarily speechless.

out laughing. "He was scared of the teacher?

finally relaxed on hearing the whole story. So Stewart hadn't managed to reveal who he was to Little Nina yet.

closed his eyes and pinched the

Wentworth, I've just received word-Ferdinand's background has been checked, but nothing

frowned. "Nothing

ordinary family. Both parents are still living, but they're in the countryside. He showed promise early on, was taken as the last apprentice by Dr. Calloway, and after Dr. Calloway passed, Ferdinand stayed and kept

curled in a cold, humorless smile. "That's just what he wants people to see. The part he hides-that's who

Carl froze.

up a single real detail, just how deep

keep

to me.