Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony needed to break free from Stewart, but if the price of freedom was becoming a murderer, that was simply too high a cost.

That's why James silently hoped Stewart would come out of this unscathed.

Briony deserved a life untainted by Stewart's shadow.

Two people who were never meant to stay together-after the divorce, they could each go their separate ways, find their own peace.

That was the best ending anyone could hope for.

...

Stewart sat beside Briony, watching her, but she never looked up, her attention fixed on her phone.

Nearby, a young couple had just received their marriage certificate. The woman, beaming, linked arms with her new husband, chattering about where they should go for dinner that night.

The man smiled and told her he'd already booked a hotel-two days and one night of a romantic getaway, just for the two of them.

Hearing this, the woman's face lit up with delight. She held his arm tighter, her laughter ringing with pure, sweet happiness.

Stewart couldn't help but be pulled back to nine years ago, to the day he and Briony registered their marriage.

That day, after they signed the papers, he had to rush to court, so he gave her the code to his house, told her to move into Southcreek Manor on her own.

By the time he finished work and came home, it was already past midnight.

He hadn't expected to find Briony asleep on the sofa, a modest dinner-four dishes and a soup-laid out on the table.

When Briony woke and saw him, the first thing she asked was, "Have you eaten?"

She was only twenty-one then, her face still soft with youth, her wide eyes searching his face with a hint of nervousness.

moment, he found her almost painfully sincere. Even though he'd already eaten, he lied and said he

she heard he hadn't eaten yet,

particularly good; there was even

that when he married Briony,

he picked at the awkward meal, he caught sight of a Band-Aid

fluttered a little then, but the feeling was

gone

the years that followed, Briony's cooking improved with every meal. She turned their house into a warm, inviting home

Stewart had never noticed the effort behind it

Briony had built with five years of her youth-day by day,

one

eyes, Adam's apple

ache in his chest spread, sharp and unrelenting, creasing his brow with

first time, he truly understood-he was the one who'd

that realization, Stewart knew: their marriage was

voice

It was their turn.

rose and walked toward the

took a slow, steady breath, and stood. His tall frame wavered for a moment, but he caught himself

nearly

Stewart regain his balance and join Briony at the counter, Cedric let out a silent sigh of

the divorce agreement, court documents, and both IDs ready,

finished the paperwork, stamped the certificates,

One

certificate, staring at the words "Divorce Certificate." At last, she felt the weight

stood and walked straight for

her, Stewart rose as

Briony didn't look back.

now. Struggling to stay