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.

wedding march began to

as Briony, leaning on Bianca and the nurse for

presided over their divorce in

but wore the same suit

a moment, Briony felt dazed, as

were no guests. Only a few staff from the wedding company,

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

onto Briony's ring finger, the diamond onto her

him a ring, she deliberately fumbled. The ring slipped from her hand, skittering across the

to fetch it and handed it

indifference as she let the ring slip from her

moment she let go, he reached out and caught it, sliding

officiant announced the union in a

may now kiss the

her

around her waist, leaning

turning her head

the corner of her

tensed, shoving

smiled faintly, and in one Swift motion, scooped

and

Sode toward their "bridale