Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Rosita blurted out, "Ottilie gave me all those scores-she was the mastermind!"

But on the other side, Ottilie insisted that while she'd found the music, it was Rosita who'd come up with the idea and supplied the means to enter the competition.

No matter how they tried to shift the blame, the facts wouldn't change.

Ottilie and Rosita had, without question, stolen intellectual property and made millions from it. The severity of their actions met the threshold for criminal detention.

Briony was determined to press charges. She handed everything over to her lawyer and her agent, Bill, to handle.

But theft wasn't the only thing Rosita and Ottilie were facing. Buried in their contracts was a clause: if their personal actions led to an irreparable collapse of their public image and caused significant loss to the company, they were liable for triple liquidated damages.

Back when they signed, Rosita and Ottilie had only had eyes for the hefty signing bonus-the fine print was the last thing on their minds.

Only now did the trap become obvious. The company had been waiting for them to fall in from the very start.

The case went to court. As the plaintiff, Briony refused any sort of private settlement.

If no one posted bail for Rosita and Ottilie before the trial, they would remain in custody at the police station.

The incriminating video of Lauren had been arranged by Briony, who'd paid her five million for the recording.

Of course, Mr. Seven's help was indispensable-his people were the ones to make contact with Lauren.

Briony reviewed the footage in advance. While it exposed Rosita, it also revealed that her relationship with Stewart had been broken for years, fanning the flames of public opinion.

But the final risqué segment was something Briony hadn't anticipated. That, apparently, was Mr. Seven's little "bonus."

This time, Mr. Seven had hired an elite international hacker to take over the control room's system. No matter how much clout Stewart had, there was no way to stop the video from spreading.

After all, the talent show was the talk of the nation.

straight, the scandal was all anyone could talk about. "Rosita," "Stewart," "Ottilie," and "Mrs. Wentworth"-these names dominated trending lists

days that followed, Briony barely left the house, and

holed up at Skybreeze Retreat, waiting for the storm

Mario and Marlene stayed with them. Little Nina missed school, but she

their days in carefree happiness, oblivious to the tangled betrayals of the

week later, Garry Ferguson arrived

he gave a

My work here is finished, so I'll

Mario, feeling a pang of

did Dr. Ellsworth

easy smile. "You seem to care about my son

really is a sweet and

eyebrow. "Are you asking

"Will you?"

a family matter, Ms. Kensington. No need for you to worry." Briony

finished packing and

Little Nina said their

to little Mario, hugging him for

say a

eyes grew

little Mario and headed for the door. As he

and, out of nowhere, asked, "Is there any chance you and Stewart will get

by the

a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. That's

watched Garry carry little Mario to the car, a strange, indescribable sadness began

pulled away

came over and