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!"

attention shifted

Stewart behind, grabbing Little Mario's hand and pulling him over to the kids' play area behind

me another smile! If you do, I'll

Little Mario: "Okay!"

I wish you went to my preschool-you're way

Little Mario: "Cute!"

grown-ups couldn't help

Little Nina was encouraging Little Mario to talk

his daughter's sweet, childish voice echoing in his ears, Stewart stared

in his hand,

...

just a short

herself growing tense at the thought of Stewart

James and your godfather are there do you

can be. Trust me, Stewart doesn't stand a chance." Gwendolyn let out a

replied. "It's just... court is in two days.

he's still Little Nina's biological father. Even if

her

She understood, of course.

divorced, if Little Nina wanted to have

deep. They

the reality. It

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 aback, then shook her head. "No, that's not it at all. I just want a clean break from Stewart, so

rushing into a

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

Briony paused.

digs in his

walking, her