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."

at Stewart

retreat,

slept with Briony

time, Briony lay in the middle, an arm wrapped gently around each

she read them a

little ones

the lamp. "Alright now, close your

all traces of the earlier scene forgotten. Children,

determined to fulfill her big-sisterly duties by singing her brother

can sing the lullaby for your

Mario clapped his

more outgoing lately- especially after their recent time

room, Little Nina's sweet, childish

only got through a few lines before nodding off

the course-Briony

however, was

gentle lullaby until Little Mario finally closed his eyes and

as if he

and he

small voice

he

catching Little Mario's peaceful face by the moonlight

faint smile curving his lips-he must have been

Briony's heart melted.

gentle child... and yet he'd never known a mother's embrace from the moment he was

so fragile, so tiny, who'd never even felt his mother's arms before

caught. She bent to kiss Little Mario's forehead and whispered,

from Gwendolyn White and

a

to master the basic posture and a few facts about

another day to explaining the instrument's history

remaining two days, Bill told Rosita to stay