Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Little Nina's eyes darted around before finally landing on the figurine in Stewart's hand. After a moment's hesitation, she shook her head with surprising resolve.

"Even if you're my dad, I can't accept this gift."

Stewart was caught off guard, blinking in confusion.

It took him a while to find his voice. "Why not?"

"Because if you take someone's gift, you owe them a favor!" Little Nina raised her hand with a dramatic flourish, shaking her head as she let out a tiny, exaggerated sigh, looking every bit the miniature grown-up. "You're just trying to bribe me, and I'm not falling for it!"

Stewart: "..."

Garry, who'd been watching from the sidelines, burst into laughter.

James couldn't help but smile too. He ruffled Little Nina's hair and beamed with pride. "That's my girl! Keep that sharp mind of yours, sweetheart-no smooth- talking guy will ever trick you!"

"James." Carney scolded him, "Don't fill her head with nonsense. She's only four!"

James just shrugged. "Better to teach her how the world works early. Otherwise, it'll be too late once she's older. Look at Bryn..."

He shot Stewart a glance full of mock disapproval and shook his head with a sigh. "What a mess."

Carney: "..."

Garry lounged back on the sofa, his eyes nearly disappearing as he laughed.

Little Mario, seeing his dad so cheerful for the first time, blinked his big, dark eyes and then broke into a goofy smile of his own.

"Hey!" Little Nina cried out, pointing at Little Mario in delight. "He's smiling! Little Mario, you're so cute when you smile!"

an instant, her attention shifted from Stewart

pulling him over to the kids' play area behind the

Little Mario, give me another smile! If you do, I'll

Little Mario: "Okay!"

smile! I wish you went to my preschool-you're way cuter than any of

Little Mario: "Cute!"

grown-ups couldn't help but overhear the

Little Nina was encouraging Little Mario to

sweet, childish voice echoing in his ears,

hand, his eyes dark and

...

was just a short walk from

at the thought of Stewart

her. "Don't worry. James and your godfather are there do you really think Stewart

he might say to her." "Your little girl is clever as can be. Trust me, Stewart doesn't stand a chance." Gwendolyn let out a gentle sigh. "I

court is in

from Stewart as soon as possible. But he's still Little Nina's biological father. Even if you get divorced, he has the right to

her lips

She understood, of course.

if she and Stewart divorced, if Little Nina wanted to have a relationship with her father, Briony couldn't stop

deep. They can't

wasn't that she couldn't face the

would use Little Nina as leverage, dragging out the divorce... "You know..." Gwendolyn saw right through her and lowered her voice. "Are you in such a hurry to get divorced because you're eager to meet someone new?" Briony was momentarily taken

you're not rushing into a second

it's best if the divorce goes through. But if it doesn't so what? You can just live separately. And as long as you're still married, Little Nina is

Briony paused.

Stewart really digs in his heels, this could drag on for ages.

her frown