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.

found her almost painfully sincere. Even though he'd

hadn't eaten yet, she sprang into action, reheating all

that dinner wasn't particularly good; there was even a

Briony,

meal, he caught

a little then, but the feeling was quickly shattered by a work

the call, Briony had already gone upstairs to tend to little

cooking improved with every meal. She turned their

noticed the

had built with five years of her youth-day by

the one who lost it

Adam's apple bobbing

and unrelenting, creasing his brow with

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

knew: their marriage was

automated voice called their

It was their turn.

walked toward

His tall frame wavered for a moment, but he caught himself on the

Clarke nearly

join Briony at the counter, Cedric let out

agreement, court documents, and both IDs ready, the process moved

the paperwork, stamped the certificates, and

set. One

at the words "Divorce Certificate." At last, she felt the weight in her

and walked straight

rose

Briony didn't look back.

up to her now. Struggling to