Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony nodded, her voice soft. "I just need a moment. I'll be right in."

Ferdinand could more or less guess this had something to do with Stewart. But he didn't pry; this was Briony's private business, and if she needed to talk, she would. Since she didn't, he simply respected her wishes and left it alone.

Once he was sure she was all right, Ferdinand headed back inside, leaving Briony outside to collect herself.

Five minutes later, Briony pushed open the glass door and stepped into the living

room.

On the couch, Julia was clutching Little Nina, smothering her with kisses. The little girl, trapped in her grandmother's enthusiastic embrace, wore an expression of pure resignation-her bright eyes silently pleading for rescue.

When she spotted her mother, Little Nina blinked twice.

Watching them, Briony suddenly remembered a meme she'd seen online: "If you're being held against your will, blink twice." She couldn't help but laugh.

"Mom, you're laughing!" Little Nina protested, frowning. "Come save me! Grandma's hugging me so tight I can barely breathe!"

You couldn't really blame Julia for her outpouring of affection-Little Nina was the spitting image of Briony at that age.

In her confused state, Julia took one look at Little Nina and immediately decided she was her own 'Bryn'.

"My Bryn! My sweet Bryn!" Julia cooed, refusing to let go, repeating the name between kisses.

Little Nina, mature beyond her years, didn't struggle or complain. Instead, she just looked imploringly at Briony, her brow furrowed as if to say, "A little help here?"

Briony sat down beside her mother, speaking gently. "Mom, could you loosen up a little? You're squeezing Little Nina too hard-she's uncomfortable."

Julia shook her head, clutching Little Nina tighter. "Bryn... She's mine... My Bryn..."

child from

head in disbelief. "Well, that's a new one. Now there's a little Bryn-she doesn't even recognize

only prompt Little Nina to

Nina was smart. With just a nudge from Briony, she

can't breathe!" Little Nina cried out dramatically. "Help,

Julia froze.

a gentle reminder, "Mom, you're

at the child in her

ever the actress, squeezed out a couple of tears. "You're

releasing her at once and fumbling to wipe away her

all the rubbing,

watched, torn between sympathy for her daughter and

was a cartoon on

episode of "Bear & Woody" playing

side by side, big and small, utterly

Ferdinand stepped out onto

of improvement, but to truly recover, she'd need a professional's care-someone experienced

renowned physician who had retired to the countryside to cultivate medicinal herbs. If

Ferdinand vouched for him, Briony had no reservations. "You

if my uncle is going to treat her, she'll have

thought caught Briony off guard. "I'm worried she might not adjust

I'll have my uncle come here first, let him spend a few days getting to know Mrs. Hudson. Once she's comfortable, then they can head out to the country together.

her mother and daughter, side by side on the couch, engrossed in

lips together and drew a

and started