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.

it bother you?" he asked quietly. "You just reconciled with your son, and Stewart's already found him a stepmother. It's like he's

some reason, Briony felt that Ferdinand

And his hostility toward Stewart was

was her friend, after

had always disliked

first choice would obviously be 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

was caught

you truly feel nothing for

it weren't for his endless delaying and refusal to let go, the divorce would've happened ages

certain. "You don't need to worry about me. Whoever Stewart chooses

low and measured. "But staying in Northborough for your child's sake-that sounds to me like you're sacrificing too much. Did it ever cross your mind that maybe Mario doesn't need you to do

herself at

Ferdinand was met with silence, he realized he'd gone too

heavy sigh. "Sorry. That was out of

just looking out for me." Briony closed her eyes for a moment, wondering how this call had shifted so suddenly.

"Mr. Ellsworth, I know I'm not doing this perfectly,

only way