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.

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

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

bring her son home to live with her, at least not yet. So she

Briony couldn't bear the thought that he

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

and turned

in the painting 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 had once described

a

"Dad?"

and little Mario came running in, clutching a new

story! Will you read it to

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

the book Mario was holding, his voice still rough from the cough. "Did you

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

softene as carried Mario out the study toward

room.

hallway, he tossed the handkerchief into the

ask you

I was happy here. I answered just like

great," Stewart said, setting him down on the bed. "Lie down

perfectly still, his big dark eyes

Stewart couldn't help but see