Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Tony perked up. "Oh, Ottilie! Of course I know her-the show's aired three episodes already, and every song she's performed is incredible!"

"I know Ottilie too," someone chimed in. "People are saying she's this season's champion, hands down!"

"Her songs are all originals, and they really have her own style," another added. "She's even managed to weave in traditional elements. That's rare these days!"

Mary nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Honestly, her vocals are just average, but her songs are amazing. And she already responded on her social media-she said all the songs were written by Ms. Lockwood!"

A sudden hush fell over the room, then a wave of commotion broke out.

Every eye turned to Rosita.

She tightened her grip on her water glass, heart pounding. Of all things, why did this have to come up now?

But she kept her expression cool. "Mary, you're giving me too much credit. Ottilie's my cousin she's always dreamed of being a singer. I just helped her out a little. Those songs? I wrote them in my spare time, just for fun."

"Oh, don't be so modest, Ms. Lockwood!" Mary laughed. "Those tunes have a real folksy vibe. You'd have to be seriously talented to write songs like that!"

couldn't shake the feeling that Mary

were aware of the truth behind those songs. There was no

gaze snapped to Briony, suspicion

been waiting for that look, and when it finally came, she smiled-a slow, knowing curve of her lips. "Ms. Lockwood, you really are the whole package. Acting, songwriting, and now we hear you're a folk music

forced a smile, clenching her jaw. "I just dabble in it for fun. I

"You taught yourself

no choice but to

let

puzzled

Briony, however, understood perfectly.

valued and passed down, most started

just eight. It took her until she was thirteen to really get it, and only then did she

stolen what she didn't understand and still thought she'd

arched an eyebrow,