Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Her daughter's tiny fists rained down on him, light as falling raindrops-nothing that could possibly hurt.

Yet to Stewart, every little punch landed squarely on his heart.

He stared at his daughter in stunned silence, his grip on Briony's hand loosening bit by bit.

The forceful air he'd carried just moments ago had vanished completely.

Briony gently pulled her hand free and bent to scoop Little Nina into her arms.

Holding her daughter close, her voice gentle and soothing, Briony whispered, "Don't worry, Little Nina. Mommy's okay."

Little Nina threw her arms tightly around Briony's neck, glaring fiercely at Stewart with all the indignation a four-year-old could muster. "A real gentleman never bullies a lady. Shame on you!"

Stewart watched his daughter, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

He wanted to say something, to comfort her somehow, but Little Nina had already buried her angry face into the crook of Briony's neck.

"Mommy, I don't like him!" she declared, her voice trembling with both outrage and the threat of tears.

Briony's heart ached.

Little Nina was usually so cheerful, so optimistic, but she was only four. Watching her parents argue-seeing things escalate-must have been terrifying for her.

Briony couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt for letting her temper get the better of her and scaring her child.

She stroked her daughter's back tenderly, fixing Stewart with a cold stare. "You should leave. Don't come to Skybreeze Retreat again."

Stewart pressed his lips together, his dark eyes locked on Briony.

After a moment, he gave a low, defeated reply. "Alright."

Briony turned away, carrying her daughter inside.

Little Mario stood frozen at the doorway.

As Briony passed, she spoke softly to him, "Little Mario, it's getting late. Let's go upstairs and get ready for bed."

glancing back at Stewart

son's small figure retreat, his

Mario slept with Briony and Little Nina

like last time, Briony lay in the

read them

little ones listened,

finished, Briony turned off the lamp. "Alright now, close your eyes and go

Nina piped up, all traces of the earlier scene forgotten. Children,

fulfill her big-sisterly duties by

"Alright, tonight you can

his hands

him a little closer. He'd become much more outgoing lately- especially after

sweet, childish voice floated through the

through a few lines before nodding

for the course-Briony was

was still

took over, singing a gentle lullaby until Little

as if

held him, humming softly, and he called out

small

started, then realized he was calling for

down, catching Little Mario's peaceful face by the moonlight filtering

his lips-he must have

Briony's heart melted.

he'd never known a mother's embrace from the

tiny, who'd never even felt his mother's arms before he was

to kiss Little Mario's forehead and whispered, "Sleep well, little one.

fiddle from Gwendolyn White and could barely

hopelessly unmusical-learning a song in a week

just asked Rosita to master the basic posture and a few facts about the

explaining the instrument's history and the basics of the mandolin as

told Rosita