Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The car door swung open, and Ferdinand climbed out, drawing his pistol as he stepped onto the gravel.

Gifford staggered, a bullet lodged in his back, but his bulletproof vest had saved him he didn't go down.

Shielding Mary with his body, Gifford hurried her toward the car.

When he saw Ferdinand rushing to meet them, Gifford shoved Mary forward. "It's an ambush! You two get out of here—now!"

Ferdinand caught Mary as she nearly collapsed in his arms. He glanced anxiously at Gifford. "Are you alright?"

"I'll live," Gifford said, holding Ferdinand's gaze. "Mr. Ellsworth, if I make it out of this, I'll find you. But if I don't... well, I hope you get what you want."

Ferdinand's brow furrowed, but before he could answer, several armed men burst from the undergrowth.

"Go!" Gifford yelled.

Gritting his teeth, Ferdinand dragged Mary toward the car.

At the same moment, Briony suddenly flung the passenger door open and sprang out.

Gunfire erupted all around as Briony ran straight toward them.

"Bryn!" Ferdinand shouted, his eyes wide with panic. Without thinking, he shoved Mary aside and sprinted to catch Briony in his arms.

She clung to him, but her eyes were locked on Mary. "Run! Get down the hill-just go!"

Mary froze, shaking her head through her tears. "Briony, I can't. You should be the one running-"

my life for you and your child,

Mary kept sobbing.

so loud it was almost a shriek. "If you don't run, all three of us are going to die right here.

jaw, and finally turned and ran, stumbling and limping down the slope. The pain in her ankle was real—she'd had to make it look convincing to fool

would lure Ferdinand out of the car, then Briony would slip away

give Mary the

dare look back. All she could do was run with everything she had, her heart pounding painfully as she sobbed out

"Briony!"

everything clicked for

out his pistol and pressed it to Briony's forehead. "You've been working

marry the

"You-"

"Mr. Ellsworth-!"

broken cry rang out as he collapsed at

jaw and shoved Briony into the back

seat and gunned the

jolted violently, sending Briony bouncing in the back, nausea rising in her throat-shefiadn managed to fasten her

Ferdinand burst into

really think

in horror as Ferdinand rolled down the driver's window, taking aim at

are

us, there's no point in it