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.

was going on-Lorna

well beyond what a four- year-old should be expected to tackle, and there were so many of them. At that age, kids' fingers are still so delicate, but Lorna insisted on Mario grinding through endless exercises every

live with her, at least

couldn't bear the thought that he might end up afraid of Lorna because of

him as far as the front gate, letting Carol take him inside.

from the window and turned toward the ink painting hanging

a cold, severe profile; only the eyes and brows betrayed any emotion, but even that was nothing but

pressing a handkerchief to

"Dad?"

door swung open, and little Mario came running in,

bought me a new story! Will you read it to

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

Mario was holding, his voice still

"Last night I slept with Mom, and

softene as carried Mario out the study toward the

room.

tossed the

ask

to know if I was happy

setting him down on the bed. "Lie

obediently lay back, small and perfectly still,

couldn't