Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Because he wasn't born from Mommy. He has his own mom."

Stewart's face darkened. "Briony, there's no need to say things like that to a child."

"Oh, really?" Briony shot him a cold smile. "You want Little Nina to be close to Irwin, but have you even considered whether Irwin can accept this little sister who's suddenly appeared in his life?"

His expression grew stormy. "So you're teaching Little Nina to be wary of Irwin?"

"I'm simply telling my daughter the truth. She may be small, but she's not stupid. She'll work out for herself how to deal with Irwin."

Stewart looked at Briony, disappointment flickering in his eyes.

"You've changed, Briony."

Briony's laughter was short and sharp. "No, Stewart. You just never really knew me. You never really understood Irwin, either. Don't look at me like that, as though I'm the villain here. Maybe you should ask yourself-do you really love Irwin as much as you say? If you did, why are you always trying to hand off the responsibility of looking after him to someone else?"

Stewart's gaze turned cold, his dark eyes locked on her.

Briony ignored him, turning to stare out the window, her face unreadable.

Seeing this, Stewart clenched his jaw and said nothing more, turning away with a stony face.

The car fell into heavy silence.

Little Nina reached her arms toward James. "Godfather, cuddle!"

James immediately scooped her into his lap, ruffling her hair. "Missing your godfather already?"

chest, her voice small and

sense her mood and let out

don't really like him.

explain the complicated mess between Stewart and Briony to a child. He settled for, "Let the grown-ups sort out their own problems. All you need to do, Little Nina,

her eyes, drowsy.

in his arms so she'd be more comfortable. "Then nap here, sweetheart. I'll

her eyes,

minivan pulled into their neighborhood, winding along the

through

car rolled to a stop in the

by one, everyone got

the sound of the car, Irwin came racing out of the house, unable to contain

"Dad! Mom!"

trwin was dressed in his private school uniform, looking every bit the well-mannered prep schooler. His features had lost their babyish roundness, and there was a distinct trace

Irwin ran toward her, Briony's gaze remained cool

stood beside her

in front of

shoulder. "Irwin, from now on, you should

instant. He stared

said nothing, didn't even

shoulders drooped.

been fo