Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The wedding was scheduled for the eighth of next month—a full thirty days away.

Ferdinand had hired a professional team to handle everything, from the bridal photos to the reception. Briony didn't have to lift a finger.

Not that she'd wanted a wedding in the first place. Ferdinand had no illusions she'd be enthusiastic about any of it.

On the day of the photoshoot, Ferdinand cleared his entire schedule.

The shoot was set in St. Nortia's Chapel.

He'd booked out the whole place in advance.

Outside, Ferdinand's people formed a discreet perimeter, keeping everything tightly controlled.

Inside the chapel, a makeshift dressing room had been set up. Briony sat before the mirror, her makeup freshly applied, as the stylist helped her into the first dress. They had ten different looks to get through today. It was going to be a marathon. "Mrs. Ellsworth, you have such a beautiful figure and porcelain skin. Every gown looks like it was made just for you," the stylist gushed.

Briony stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at her reflection.

The white gown shimmered with tiny crystals-something every bride-to-be would dream of wearing.

But Briony's expression remained flat, her heart numb.

Her thoughts drifted to that divorce ceremony in Ghana.

Four long years later, here she was again, back in a white dress, feeling just as helpless and out of place as before.

childhood had been right

was born under an unlucky star-doomed

Her mother, for one.

had suffered because of her,

now, her own two

And finally, herself.

isn't the bride smiling?" the stylist teased gently, watching Briony's blank reflection in the

twisted with irony. "Maybe it's just all a bit too

could she possibly smile, when her

stylist blinked, a little thrown by Briony's cold, out-of-place sarcasm. Marrying someone as

woman's dream? Why on

final touches were

the dressing area

to the chapel, dressed in a crisp white tailcoat, phone in hand, deep in

turned, his expression pausing as

urgent, don't call me again today," he

then slipped

and strode toward Briony

and quietly slipped out, leaving the

in front of Briony, eyes warm as he took her in from head to toe. He smiled,

"You look stunning, Bryn."