Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony bent down and zipped up the little yellow duck backpack. "From the kids' perspective, of course I want them to have both their parents. If Stewart truly cherishes them, he'll take care of himself."

She looked up at James, her voice soft, her tone calm. "I've never thought I mattered much to Stewart. Maybe we shared five years as husband and wife, but it was never love. Stewart never loved me, and I'll never love him again."

James watched her, his hand tightening at his side.

He pressed his lips together, wrestling with himself.

He wanted to say, Bryn, you're wrong. Stewart might love you more than you know. He's probably still hopelessly in love with you.

But how could he say that? To confess the feelings of his rival in love? Even if James couldn't fight and claw for her, he certainly couldn't step aside and play matchmaker for Stewart.

So he let it go. If he could be her knight, standing quietly at her side for the rest of his life—even if only as family—that would be enough.

...

Briony and James came downstairs together.

"Is there enough room for the car seats?" Briony asked, glancing at Stewart.

"I installed an extra one before I came," Stewart replied, meeting her eyes. "I'll take good care of them. Both of them."

It was a promise, spoken as a father to the mother of his children.

Briony simply nodded, then stepped over to say goodbye to the kids.

James loaded Little Nina's suitcase into the trunk.

children into their car seats, making sure they were safely strapped

inside the car, their faces

heart caught in her

door, gave Briony one last look, his lips

look at

into the car, and

car purred to life, turned around, and pulled away into the

there, watching the taillights disappear into the darkness before she finally closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out in

watched her, worry etched on his face. "Are

her head gently. "I'll have to get used to it." Just two days ago, she'd quietly made an appointment

yourself, then let me say this: Girl, in this world no one is worth you sacrificing your happiness for-except yourself. You deserve to put yourself

have to tell you-learn to find peace within yourself. No one else can do that for you. It's a journey every mother has to

worrying the kids will get hurt. These days, I keep dreaming something bad happens to them at

pressed a stress ball into her palm.

did Briony notice the deep crescent marks her nails had left in her skin. Just thinking about those dreams had pushed

stress ball, the therapist's gentle voice

children were born, it was always inevitable they'd leave your world someday. Every day they grow is just one step closer to that.

if you

You're a mother,

but don't make

salvation. Don't treat them as your entire world. You need to learn to love yourself