Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Ferdinand knew it was Gifford who had told everyone that Briony was Stewart's ex-wife.

He looked at Gifford and smiled, a cold glint in his eyes.

The next moment, Gifford let out a muffled grunt and dropped to one knee, blood gushing from his thigh.

The bullet was lodged in the bone, and Ferdinand didn't hesitate to dig it out himself with his combat knife.

He pressed the bloodied bullet into Gifford's trembling hand, his own palm slick with blood. Then he patted Gifford's pale, sweat-soaked face as if he were soothing a child.

"I told you before, I don't like anyone telling me how to handle my business."

Gifford kept his head down, teeth clenched against the pain. "Mr. Ellsworth, I was wrong."

No one else dared so much as breathe.

In the end, the wedding would proceed just as Ferdinand wished-grand, extravagant, impossible to ignore.

Everyone thought he'd lost his mind, but no one dared oppose him. They could only follow along, caught in the wake of his madness.

At the reception afterward, Ferdinand raised his glass and drank with each of the heads of the family, one by one.

Every last one of them met his toast, offering hollow congratulations.

There were plenty of people present, but Ferdinand didn't let a single one off the hook. By the end of the round, he'd downed more than his fair share.

All he wanted in that moment was to hold Briony

course, and recoiled

knows where. Who knows what germs you're carrying? Are you trying to make sure I drop dead

hesitated, caught off

eyes burning with anger. "You're drunk. Go sleep it

stared at her, his eyes red from the alcohol, but a hint

forward to the wedding

wouldn't be this worried about something

it," Briony said, holding his

smiled and leaned in to press a gentle

instant-so quick that Briony didn't even have time to

and said, "Get some

watched as he left the

door closed behind him,

her eyes, exhaling slowly in

If I were healthy, I might not have survived another round

following week, Ferdinand was busier than

more maids had arrived to help with

found it nearly impossible