Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Once inside, she realized Stewart wasn't downstairs.

"Irwin, go up to your room and start your homework."

"Okay." Irwin trudged up the stairs, backpack slung over his shoulder, clearly in a foul mood.

Jeannie, on the other hand, was practically buzzing with excitement. She hurried back to her room to touch up her makeup and spritzed herself with perfume before stepping out again.

As she left her room, Stewart emerged from his study at the same moment.

"Mr. Wentworth," Jeannie called, walking over with a bright smile. "Just finished working?"

The moment she approached, a wave of overpowering floral fragrance hit him.

Stewart's eyebrows knit together, and his voice stayed cool. "Where's Irwin?" Jeannie answered sweetly, "He's in his room, working on his homework!" Without another word, Stewart headed straight for Irwin's room.

Jeannie, unwilling to give up so easily, trailed behind.

Stewart paused outside Irwin's door, glancing back at her. "I haven't had dinner yet. Could you go downstairs and make me some pasta? Something light."

"Of course!" Jeannie replied, her heart fluttering as she turned and hurried down the stairs.

Stewart watched her go, his gaze growing distant and troubled.

Then he opened the door and stepped inside.

doing homework at all. He was slumped over his

"Irwin?"

and gently patted his head.

startled, and scrambled to his

boy's anxious face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Did something

gaze darted

you have

Irwin looked up at Stewart, voice barely above a whisper. "Dad, will you always treat me like this? Just

said, ruffling Irwin's hair with his big hand. "Why do you ask

shook his head, forcing a smile. "Just wondered, that's all. I'm okay. The homework's

Stewart sat

sniffled and pointed vaguely at a

began

getting distracted, clearly not himself. Stewart noticed, but chose not to

while later, Jeannie came up to call Stewart for

with

disappointed, but all

sat a beautifully plated bowl of pasta, the carrots carved into little

for a moment, lost in

pulled out his phone and dialed Carl. "I need you to