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.

children with a gentle gaze. Nina bounced on Mario's little bed. "Do you

reads you bedtime stories,

"Dad does."

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

blinked, his expression earnest.

to imagine Stewart reading a story, but she just couldn't picture

lips pouted. "I never had a dad. Not even when

didn't have

about it and sighed. "I guess you've got it a little worse. Grown-ups always say kids without a mom don't get to drink

milk!"

my mom's milk! So really, you're

Mario was left speechless.

her daughter's words, stifling a laugh mixed with

the corner of his eye and stepped aside to

"I'd like to take Mario with me today.

Their eyes met.

at the shopping bags in her

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

lips together, almost sighing. "He hardly has time

point in continuing this conversation. Their perspectives had never really aligned-certainly not before the divorce, and even less so

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