Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Daddy..."

"Nina!"

Mario hurried over and grabbed his little sister's hand.

"Mario, do you think Daddy's sick?"

Mario didn't look at Stewart Wentworth. Instead, he used his small body to block Nina's view.

“Nina, I've got a brand new toy. It's really cool-come on, I'll show you, okay?"

"A new toy?" Nina's eyes lit up. She immediately forgot her worries, bouncing with excitement. "I want to see! Show me!"

Mario led her inside, their voices fading down the hallway.

Out in the dark, Stewart's coughing finally eased.

The handkerchief in his hand was stained with bright red.

He tossed it into the trash, turned, and walked quickly back into the house. He headed straight for the bedroom, then into the bathroom.

He twisted on the faucet and rinsed out his mouth.

The water swirling in the sink went from a vivid red to faint pink. Gradually, the metallic taste faded from his tongue, and his ragged breathing slowed.

When the water shut off, Stewart looked up at his reflection in the mirror.

His face was ghostly pale, faint shadows ringing his eyes. He'd lost weight lately, making his features look even sharper, almost severe.

phone buzzed in his

Lorna Riley.

breezy, irreverent

sniffed me out like a bloodhound. Honestly, Stewart, don't be surprised if I

was used to Lorna's swagger, but Barrie Lockwood and the people behind him were nothing to take lightly. Stewart couldn't help but warn her, "Just

Lorna laughed, careless as ever. "Don't sweat it, just wait for my good news. Meanwhile, you enjoy your stay-at-home-dad routine. Oh, and one more thing I heard from my guy this

Stewart froze.

yet. Want me

He squeezed his eyes shut. "And I want to meet

them know. Gotta run-wish me

She hung up.

the

his features into sharp relief-thin lips pressed tight,

words looped in

Briony Kensington this

Goddamn it.

really was a

way entirely; he slid down against the cold

been wrong. If he'd never crossed paths with her, Briony's life would never have

ex-wife saw a therapist two

sink

eyes

his

painfully. He swallowed hard,

the bitterness rising

throat.