Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Can I see your room, Mario?" Nina asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

Mario nodded. "Sure."

Carol smiled at the two of them. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

Hand in hand, Mario and Nina followed Carol up the staircase, giggling softly as they went.

Briony picked up the clothes she'd brought and was about to head after them when Lorna's voice stopped her.

"Ms. Kensington, could we have a word?"

Briony paused, turning to look at Lorna.

"Ms. Kensington, Mario is a bright, thoughtful child. I hope you won't let your own possessiveness hold him back from growing up the way he should."

A cool, measured smile flickered on Briony's lips. "If we're talking about possessiveness, Ms. Riley, you seem far more invested than I am."

Lorna's brow furrowed.

"I've already made everything clear to Stewart," Briony continued, her tone even. "If you think I'm out of line, take it up with him. From now on, Ms. Riley, you don't need to pretend we're getting along for appearances. I have no interest in your man, and you don't need to try and take my son."

With that, Briony turned away and started up the stairs, ignoring Lorna's tight- lipped silence.

Upstairs, laughter and playful shrieks drifted from the children's bedroom next to the master suite.

bounced on Mario's little

reads you bedtime

"Dad does."

stopped mid-bounce, surprised. She crawled over and peered at him. "But your dad's so serious all the time. Are his stories any good? Isn't his voice too stiff?

his expression earnest. "Dad

Nina scrunched up her nose, trying to imagine Stewart reading a story, but

"I never had a dad. Not

looked at her, sensing her sadness. “I didn't

got it a little worse. Grown-ups always say kids without a mom don't get to drink

have milk!"

you drank cow's milk,” Nina argued. "I had my mom's milk! So really, you're the one

Mario was left speechless.

door, overhearing her daughter's words, stifling a laugh mixed with exasperation. Where

the corner of his eye and stepped aside to let

to take Mario with

Their eyes met.

glanced at the shopping bags in her

Thinking of the toys inside, she added, "I'll leave the toys here. If you throw them out,

almost sighing. "He hardly has time to play with

this conversation. Their perspectives

"I just want Mario to know, in my own way, that