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 bed. "Do you sleep here all by yourself at night?" Mario sat cross-legged,

reads you

"Dad does."

at him. "But your dad's so serious all the time.

earnest. "Dad has a

up her nose, trying to imagine Stewart reading a story, but she just couldn't picture

fell, and her lips pouted. "I never had a dad. Not

her sadness. “I didn't have

a little worse. Grown-ups always say kids without a

have milk!" Mario

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

Mario was left speechless.

daughter's words, stifling a laugh mixed with exasperation. Where did Nina

of his eye and stepped aside

to take Mario with me today.

Their eyes met.

bags

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

his lips together, almost sighing. "He hardly has time to play with them

be much point in continuing this conversation. Their perspectives had never really aligned-certainly

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