Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

He'd spent his life calculating gains and losses, mastering every tactic to stay in control. Logic and numbers were his language; that's how he analyzed everyone and everything around him. Over time, he'd walled off any emotional need inside himself.

By ignoring his own feelings, it was inevitable he'd overlook his partner's as well.

And with all the medication he was taking...

Cedric Clarke felt a tangle of emotions he couldn't quite name.

"Stewart, maybe it's time you take a hard look at your marriage with Briony," Cedric said quietly. "Ask yourself are you really holding on just for the sake of the kids? Or is it just because Briony seems like the 'right' fit?"

"I don't know," Stewart admitted, his gaze dropping to the half-empty glass in his hand. "All I know is, I don't want a divorce."

"I always thought you loved Briony without realizing it. But now, it seems to me you've never truly cared for her at all."

Stewart's grip on his glass tightened, knuckles turning white. "So you're saying she only endured everything because she loves me?"

"What else would it be?" Cedric shook his head and sighed. "Look, Stewart, I don't mean to kick you while you're down, but honestly, you brought a lot of this on yourself. Briony put up with so much-she sacrificed her happiness for you because she loved you. But think about it: what have you really given her in return?"

love her, and all you can talk about is how to keep this marriage afloat for practical reasons. But

the table, his jaw clenched tight,

advice on how to make

Cedric's

eyes

teach you that. She's your wife. If you cared about her-if you really paid attention you'd know what makes her happy. You'd know how to make her smile. But you

understand her?"

about what

Cedric stood, voice steady.

Briony agreed to this marriage for practical reasons, maybe she fell in love with you along the way, or maybe she had feelings for you from the start-I don't know. But what I do see is a woman who humbled herself for love, and I

yourself a good husband? Have you forgotten? You kept everyone in the dark-me included-and asked Briony, your own wife, to stand up and

we all see through her act now. But the fact remains, your son died because of her. You can't change that. And as a father, you failed in

through the