Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

So it was all about Irwin.

Briony wasn't surprised at least, not really.

"What have I ever done to him?" she said with a faint laugh. "Don't make it sound like I've been cruel or something."

Stewart sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "Irwin's actually quite sensitive. Briony, I know you hold grudges against me and against Rosita, but Irwin is innocent in all this."

Briony's gaze was icy. "Innocent? And what, my son deserved what happened to him?"

"That's not what I meant."

Stewart's brow furrowed. "I get that you're angry, and you can take it all out on me

if you want. But can't you show Irwin a little more care? For the sake of his real father?"

Briony's eyes narrowed.

Of course Stewart would pull that move. When persuasion failed, he'd even invoke Irwin's heroic father for sympathy.

"Stewart, I respect heroes. But I'm just a mother who lost her child. I'm petty and small-minded—I can't possibly understand your grand generosity."

"The best I can do is not take out my pain on Irwin. But if you expect me to treat him as my own, that's simply impossible."

"You don't have to treat him like your own," Stewart said quietly. "Just... show him a little kindness."

"I don't do fake kindness," Briony replied coldly, her eyes never leaving his. "If you want someone who's good at coddling his feelings, maybe Jeannie's your best bet."

darkened. "Jeannie is just the

has his own professional caretaker,

Irwin in a way no one

wishful thinking. If my absence really mattered, then how come Irwin was perfectly fine the four years I was

his dark eyes steady on

these shares to Little Nina, then I

documents back on the table and turned to leave. Stewart caught her by

meant those shares for Little Nina from the

out to her. "Hold

you actually care about Little Nina? Is this your idea of fatherly love? Give her five percent of the company, and in retum

struck silent by

finally spoke. "I didn't

Irwin. Please, just

really mean it,

gaze lingered on

stance was unyielding; there

voice dropped. "Fine. Ten

and

arm out of his grasp and strode toward the

glimpse of the watercolor Stewart had pressured her to finish four years ago. She barely glanced at it

followed her until she disappeared