Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Pfft-

The drink Cedric Clarke had just taken a sip of sprayed out in a fine mist.

He coughed, spluttering. "Cough-cough—"

Stewart shot him a disapproving look, eyebrows drawn tight.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Cedric tried to catch his breath. "Jeez, I nearly choked! If you're jealous of how great my life is right now, just say so!"

"I'm being serious," Stewart replied, his expression grave. "Briony's back, but she's still upset. She's obviously going out of her way to avoid me."

Cedric, finally composed, studied Stewart for a moment before sighing.

"Hold on—I'm not sure I get what you're saying," Cedric said, frowning. "Last time, you told me you didn't love Briony. If all you wanted was a respectable Mrs. Wentworth, why do you care if she avoids you? She's home, your kids have their mother, the family's picture-perfect. What more do you want?"

"I might not love her," Stewart admitted, pouring himself another drink, "but I'm determined to be a good husband. Those five years we kept our marriage under wraps, things were harmonious for the three of us. Now with little Nina here, divorce feels even less like an option."

He took a long swig, nearly emptying his glass, then went on, "But I can tell she doesn't want to go back to how things were."

do you mean, go back?" Cedric shot him a sharp look. "You mean, she spends her days looking after your kids and

you think marriage is, you're

his glass. "Isn't that how

not! That's a terrible way to

darkened. "That's how my

stared at him, face suddenly serious. "You can't use your

pressed his

a moment, then said, "I get it. You're

looked up, searching his friend's face. "What are you trying

real marriage is built on mutual love-nothing

out with

way. But by that

quiet, mulling it over. "If there were no kids involved, I'd have

gaped at him. "Stewart, are

blinked, confused by