Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

He gripped the iron chain tightly in one hand, pulling off his tie with the other. Briony's scalp prickled with terror.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in her ankle, she clenched her jaw and scrambled desperately toward the far side of the bed.

Stewart's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. He let go of the chain, watching her crawl frantically away.

Briony finally reached the edge of the bed, but in the next instant, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

"Aah-!"

Stewart yanked the chain, dragging her back. Briony clung desperately to the bedframe.

Her ankle felt like it was being crushed. In a panic, her eyes darted to the nightstand, to the lamp perched on top.

Stewart shrugged off his jacket with one hand, then started unbuttoning his shirt.

One button. Two. Three.

Briony glanced over her shoulder and burst into tears, her voice breaking, "Stewart, please I'm begging you, let me go..."

But Stewart seemed deaf to her pleas. His eyes were empty, bottomless, as if all warmth had been drained from him.

He tossed his shirt to the floor, gripped the chain with both hands, and gave it a violent pull.

Briony's hands lost their hold on the bed. In an instant, she was dragged across the mattress.

At the last second, her fingers closed around the lamp.

Crash!

into Stewart's head. White glass shattered,

and collapsed onto the floor, his tall

scrambled up, snatched a jagged piece of glass, and pressed it against her own

trickled down Stewart's

One drop. Two drops.

empty gaze snapped into focus. His pupils contracted as

"Stay back!" she screamed.

gripped the glass so tightly her knuckles went white, the sharp edge pressed against her

terror

closer-I swear I'll do it! I'll end it right

voice shook, but her resolve was

his breath

red. For a moment, confusion flickered in his other eye, as if he was suddenly waking from

he just

slid down her trembling chin, one

seemed to burn into Stewart's chest, as if

his gaze, slumping in defeat, using one hand to push himself

he moved, Briony recoiled like a wounded animal,

she was, he

please, don't be scared.

any closer. Just

glass

the

okay? You could really

yourself..."

was hoarse, gentle,