Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Little Nina nodded, shot Stewart a glare for good measure, then turned and marched out of the study on her own.

Briony called Carol and asked her to keep an eye on Little Nina.

Carol hurried upstairs to take Little Nina downstairs.

The study fell silent once again.

It was Briony who spoke first. "Stewart, I've thought it over. I'm going to fight for custody of Mario."

Stewart looked at her. "I told you, Mario will stay with me. You're welcome to visit him anytime."

"I don't agree with your parenting," Briony said bluntly. "And I don't trust Lorna. So yes, I'm taking this to court."

Stewart fixed his gaze on her, then, after a moment, asked, "Ferdinand told you, didn't he?"

"Whatever's going on between you and Ferdinand, I want no part of it."

Briony's tone was resolute. "I only care about my son. Stewart, I tried to trust you and Ms. Riley. I even tried to get along with her for Mario's sake. I've tried to convince myself that, as his biological father, you'd be kind to him. But even in that most basic role, you've let me down."

"The Wentworth family is complicated," Stewart replied. "Mario's a smart boy. He can handle everything I've planned for him."

cold, mirthless laugh. "By 'handle it,' do you mean turning him from a happy, bright child into someone like you-cold-blooded, calculating, obsessed with nothing but profit and

his lips together, Briony's reflection dark in

hung in the

why I brought Little Nina here

Stewart frowned. "Why?"

Nina longs for her father's attention

you're with her, you're so distant. You

tell if she's trying to get your attention or just throwing a

swallowed hard. "I thought

Irwin Wentworth, you thought showering him with material things was enough. Now it's the same with Mario. In your world, they're future

abstract, insignificant. But if someone lives their

stared at her,

as a

won't give up custody of Mario. And I won't change the way I raise

to court. But whatever the outcome, from now on, the two children will spend at least two days a week together. Little Nina and Mario are siblings. Even if you're their father, you can't take that away

a long moment before finally saying, "I can