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.

buzzed

Lorna Riley.

her breezy, irreverent voice crackled through

barely set foot in the bar and Barrie Lockwood sniffed me out like a bloodhound. Honestly, Stewart,

the people behind him were nothing to take lightly. Stewart couldn't help but warn her, "Just be careful. If anything feels off, get

for my good news. Meanwhile, you enjoy your stay-at-home-dad routine. Oh, and

Stewart froze.

details yet. Want me to

squeezed his eyes shut. "And

thing. I'll let them know. Gotta run-wish

She hung up.

knuckles white. A faint bruise marred the back of his hand, the skin still marked

light threw his features into sharp relief-thin lips pressed tight, jaw

words looped in his

Briony

Goddamn it.

was

entirely; he slid

he'd never crossed paths

saw a therapist two days

let himself sink to

his eyes with a

while his Adam's

painfully. He swallowed hard,

the bitterness

throat.