Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"You're cracking jokes again—looks like you're in good spirits," Ferdinand said,

the tension in his voice easing. "That's a relief."

"I'm doing fine, Mr. Ellsworth. You don't need to worry about me."

"So, when are you planning to go back to the old town?"

Briony paused for a moment before replying, "I'm planning to stay here in Northborough."

"You're staying?" Ferdinand's surprise was obvious, mixed with clear confusion. "What made you change your mind so suddenly?"

Briony had always thought of Ferdinand as a friend, so she told him everything- how little Mario had changed these past few months, every detail and nuance.

Ferdinand listened in silence.

It was a long while before he spoke again. "So you plan to leave Mario with the Wentworths, and you'll stay in Northborough for his sake."

"That's right," Briony said. "Mario is officially registered with the Wentworth family now. Stewart and his fiancée have both been kind to him. I asked Mario how he feels, and he likes the way things are. Stewart doesn't restrict me from seeing Mario, so it's more like we're co-parenting."

Stewart's engagement to Lorna Riley had been the talk of Northborough- extravagant, impossible to ignore.

But compared to Stewart moving on so quickly, Ferdinand seemed more concerned about Briony.

"You just reconciled with your son, and Stewart's already found him a stepmother. It's like he's deliberately trying

reason, Briony felt that

mood. And

only natural. Ferdinand was her friend, after all, and friends often took each

always disliked Stewart

to have custody of Mario," Briony said evenly, "but Lawyer Hughes told me the odds of regaining custody are slim. Instead of starting a messy battle, I'd rather let Mario grow up in a peaceful environment." "You're only thinking

was caught off

feel nothing for

said firmly. "If it weren't for his endless delaying and refusal to let go, the divorce

need to worry about me. Whoever Stewart chooses to

your child's sake-that sounds to me like you're sacrificing

herself at

was met with silence, he realized

let out a heavy sigh. "Sorry. That was out

closed her eyes for a moment, wondering how this call had shifted so suddenly. She'd called to play matchmaker for Mary, and now here

I'm not doing this perfectly, but right

only way I know