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.

sincere. Even though

moment she heard he hadn't eaten yet, she sprang

dinner wasn't particularly good; there was even a bit of eggshell in the

that when he married Briony, she was still just a girl-she didn't even know how to

awkward meal, he caught sight of a Band-Aid

little then, but the feeling was quickly shattered by a

Briony had already gone upstairs

years that followed, Briony's cooking improved with every meal. She turned

had never noticed

Briony had built with five years of her youth-day by day, bit by bit-pouring everything she had into

he was the one who lost

Adam's apple bobbing as

and unrelenting,

first time, he truly understood-he was the

knew: their marriage

voice called

It was their turn.

walked toward the

stood. His tall frame wavered for a moment, but he caught himself on the back of the

nearly rushed

seeing Stewart regain his balance and join Briony at the counter, Cedric

and both IDs ready,

certificates,

One

"Divorce Certificate." At

stood and walked straight for

Stewart rose as well.

Briony didn't look back.

catch up to her now. Struggling to stay upright,