Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Lorna strode into the room, flopped onto the couch, crossed her legs, and let out

a dramatic sigh. "How much longer am I supposed to play this wretched, universally despised villainess?"

Stewart turned, taking in Lorna's insolent, slouched posture on the couch, but he was used to her antics by now.

"Ferdinand's reached out to the Wentworths."

Lorna paused mid-stretch. "So he's finally going back to his roots?"

He nodded. "Looks like it."

She snorted. "Stealing your wife and kids wasn't enough for him-now he's after your assets too, huh?"

Stewart's dark eyes chilled. "We can leak the news about that Northside property."

Lorna arched a brow, draping herself over the back of her chair to study him. "Accelerating your little trap, are we?"

"Someone out there is even more impatient than we are. We can't drag this out any longer."

...

Over the weekend, Briony devoted herself to the kids.

Little Mario seemed perfectly content as long as he was with Nina, not once complaining about homework.

Carol, on the other hand, took several calls from Lorna. Each time, she'd step outside to answer, and when she returned, her face was troubled.

what was going on-Lorna was hounding Carol about Mario's homework

there were so many of them. At that age, kids' fingers are still so delicate, but

she couldn't bring her son home to live with her, at least not yet.

was too little to understand the conflicts between adults, and Briony couldn't bear the thought that he might end up

dinner on Sunday, Briony personally drove Mario back to Southcreek Manor. She only accompanied him as far as the front gate, letting Carol take

the window and turned toward the ink painting hanging

had a cold, severe profile; only the eyes and brows betrayed any emotion, but even that was nothing but a chilling indifference. Just as Briony

coughed, pressing a handkerchief to his

"Dad?"

little Mario came running in, clutching a new

bought me a new story! Will you read it to

balled up the bloodstained handkerchief in his palm, then bent down and scooped

his voice still

with Mom,

features softene as carried Mario out the study toward the

room.

through the hallway, he tossed the handkerchief into the

Mom ask

to know if I was happy here. I answered

setting him down on the bed. "Lie down

perfectly still,

those eyes, Stewart couldn't