Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

A cold, bitter sneer twisted in Briony's heart.

She stared at him, expressionless. "So what, am I supposed to praise you now?"

"That won't be necessary." Stewart's lips curled into a faint, almost teasing smile. "I just wanted to prove to you there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Is that so?" Briony let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Then if I told you to throw yourself into the ocean right now, could you do it?"

Stewart faltered.

But after a beat, he gave a low, resigned chuckle. "You want the truth?"

"Absolutely," Briony snapped, her eyes icy. "The sea's right there. If you jump, I'll forgive you. If you survive, consider yourself lucky. If you die-well, that's what you deserve."

"Bryn, I can't die."

He looked at her intently, his tone oddly sincere. "Someone still needs me."

"Of course you can't bear to die. Irwin still needs his perfect father, doesn't he?" Briony jerked her foot away, glaring at him with cold contempt.

"But Stewart, do you know how many times I've wished you would just hurry up and die? Yet somehow, villains always seem to live the longest.”

"I know I can't win against you. So, I hope this is the last time you force yourself into my life. You say I owe you this wedding-fine, I'm swallowing my disgust to repay that debt. But after tonight, I want my freedom back."

The hatred blazing in her eyes was unmistakable.

Stewart's Adam's apple bobbed as he stood. His reply was quiet, almost solemn. "I understand."

...

Night fell.

deck, the wedding march

Briony, leaning on Bianca and the

who had presided over their

but wore

a moment, Briony felt dazed, as if time had folded back

were no guests. Only a few staff from

Briony had refused at Skybreeze Retreat. Along with them, the

slid the wedding band onto Briony's ring finger, the diamond onto her

him a ring, she deliberately fumbled. The ring slipped

fetch it and handed it

was a mask of indifference as she let the ring

this time, Stewart seemed to anticipate her move. The moment she let go, he reached out and caught it, sliding the band onto his own ring finger with calm defiance, never breaking eye

the union in a

now kiss

at Stewart, her eyes cold

slipped an arm around her waist, leaning

turning

kiss landed on the corner of her

shoving him

faintly, and in one

and

Sode toward their "bridale