Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Ferdinand's other hand gently stroked her hair. "That depends on you, Bryn. I'm nothing like Stewart. From the very beginning, I've been a devil through and through. I've killed more people than I could ever count."

Briony clung to his shirt, her whole body trembling violently.

Seeing her shake like that, Ferdinand's eyes darkened with disappointment.

"Bryn, don't pretend you're so innocent. You're the one who taught me what it means to love and lose. Because of you, I had to put on this mask, acting the good guy just to get close to you, to win you over-but why wouldn't you let me in? Why is your heart so cold, no matter how hard I try to warm it?"

"Ferdinand, I'm begging you," she pleaded, voice breaking. "I'll do anything you want-just please, leave my family out of this. Don't hurt my friends, don't touch them..."

She looked up at him, nothing but terror in her eyes, tears blurring her vision. She looked so heartbreakingly fragile.

A sharp ache twisted in Ferdinand's chest.

He loved her he truly did so why could she only ever see the darkness in him? Why did she never feel the good?

"Bryn, you don't have to be afraid. I won't kill you. I couldn't bear to."

name. My father was a madman, my mother a puppet. Anything I ever wanted, I had to claw my way toward myself. Back when I was scraping by in Myanmar, I started at the very bottom and fought my way up- betrayal, bloodshed, all of it. The

only one, Bryn-the only person who ever reached out

shook her head, biting down hard

what kind of man he was, she never

if it weren't for you. You're

the grave. "You saved me, brought me back to life. Every life I've taken since, it's as

Briony cried, twisting away and shoving at him. She stumbled backward

her, gaze icy

hear a

raw with panic. "No! I don't want to know

took her wrists, and pulled

killed him myself, right in

flew wide, her struggles

Ferdinand, and in that moment, all the violence he kept hidden blazed