Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony answered the phone when Ferdinand called.

They arranged to meet at a café downstairs from her studio.

Ever since Briony learned about Ferdinand's connection to Stewart, she'd grown noticeably more distant with him.

And Ferdinand, of course, had picked up on it.

They chose a table by the window.

Outside, traffic streamed past in a constant blur; inside, soft music drifted through the air.

A server brought their drinks.

Briony had ordered a black coffee-no milk, no sugar-the textbook choice for a much-needed pick-me-up.

Ferdinand, ever the health-conscious doctor, opted for a glass of lemon water.

He couldn't hide his mild surprise when he saw her with the coffee.

for you, you know. You might want to cut back

met his gaze, her expression calm and reserved. "Mr. Ellsworth, if you

looked at her, his heart

he could feel Briony's detachment

the Wentworth family. I'm reclaiming my place." Ferdinand's eyes

stayed cool, her face

are divorced. The Wentworths' business

you deserved to know first." Ferdinand managed a bitter smile. "After all, Mario is a Wentworth by

power." Briony's tone was icy. "That way, Mario could finally come back to me. Frankly, that would

just me going back. My father

That made Briony pause.

might be able to go easy on Mario, but my father.... I can't promise anything about him." Ferdinand went on, "Truth is, I never wanted to fight for the inheritance. Bryn, it's because of you. Because of Mario. That's

her eyes at him. "What

a breath. "It goes back to the story of my parents and

of them, years