Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Lauren shook her head, her bulging, pain-ridden eyes now wide with terror.

"I never wanted any of this. I know I did you wrong, but I can't go back to that miserable life. I can't handle moving overseas, Neal. Please, just move on. We weren't meant to be in this life-maybe the next one, or the next chapter of this one, we can be together again. Let me go! I don't want to die—not yet!"

"You don't want to die?" Neal's laughter was harsh and guttural, his burned throat making him sound like some demon come to collect her soul.

"Lauren, you should've died a long time ago! Have you seen what a wreck your body is? Those so-called miracle pills you're taking every month-do you really think they're saving you? Let me tell you: they're illegal drugs. You're not going to last much longer. You're dying, and it's going to be ugly."

Lauren's pupils dilated in panic. She shook her head desperately. "No, no, that can't be. I spent so much money on those meds. I'll get better. I'm not going to die. I'm not!"

Neal's laugh grew even more frenzied. "You spent your whole life using men, Lauren, but in the end, it's a man who brought you down!"

He sneered, his rage boiling over. "You want to know the truth? I'm the one who gave you HIV. You wanted to get rid of me? Well, now you'll have to carry the curse I left you straight to hell!"

"I'll be waiting for you down there, Lauren. We'll be together for all eternity, never apart!"

He lunged and seized Lauren's arm.

"No! Neal, let go of me! I don't want this-let me go!" Lauren screamed in terror, her panic so overwhelming she wet herself on the spot.

Neal looked like he might strangle her right then and there.

But he never got the chance.

Stewart's men rushed in and pulled Neal away.

Lauren fainted from sheer terror.

She didn't have much time left, but she couldn't die just yet.

overturned, and both Lauren and

to Lawyer

Supreme Court agreed to expedite

filed the necessary reports well in

case was only now being re-opened, but preparations had been

after the original verdict, the trial was

got word of

Madeline Kensington arrived in court

fully recovered her memory. The only people she recognized were Briony, Bryn, and a few others who'd been living

Briony held Julia's hand

back over her shoulder at Kendal, who offered her

the

Lauren, terrified out of her mind, confessed

rage on

forward, ready to

wailing in

a

would be

The evidence was overwhelming.

judge's gavel struck. The trial was

and Neal were sentenced

finally exonerated. The record was cleared. She

Julia

unsure.

sat at the plaintiff's table, her daughter's hand gripped tightly

Mack

twig shouting threats

his face twisted-so