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..."

Briony was trying to steal the child

a new one. Now there's a little Bryn-she doesn't

could only prompt Little Nina to try reasoning

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

breathe!" Little Nina cried out dramatically. "Help,

Julia froze.

mother a gentle reminder, "Mom, you're holding her too

down at the child in

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

her tears with the edge

from all the rubbing, but she managed to

her daughter and the

was a cartoon on TV

of "Bear & Woody" playing

side, big and

out onto the balcony

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

the countryside to cultivate medicinal herbs. If Ferdinand reached out, his uncle would surely

reservations. "You handle it. I'm fine with

is going to treat her, she'll have to go out to the countryside for a

off guard. "I'm worried she might not adjust to being away

know Mrs. Hudson. Once she's comfortable, then they can head out to

door, Briony watched her mother and daughter, side

together and drew

and