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

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

bring her son home to live with her, at least not yet. So she never said a bad word about Lorna

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

Mario back to Southcreek Manor. She only accompanied him as far as the front gate, letting Carol take him inside. Briony watched them disappear into the house before turning her

and turned toward the ink painting hanging

severe profile; only the eyes and brows betrayed any

coughed, pressing a handkerchief to

"Dad?"

and little Mario came running in,

bought me a new story! Will

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

still rough from

grinned. "Last night I slept with Mom, and she sang a lullaby for

Mario out the study toward

room.

tossed the handkerchief

ask

know if I was happy here. I answered just like

said, setting him down on the

small and perfectly still, his big dark eyes fixed

couldn't