Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"It's only about control, isn't it?" Briony stared at him. "But it can't be cured, right?"

Ferdinand pressed his lips together, silent.

"Forget it." Briony lifted a hand to rub her aching temples. "I'd like some water."

"Of course."

Ferdinand immediately got up to fetch her a glass.

He held the water in one hand, and with the other, carefully helped Briony sit up, propping her gently against his chest.

Briony didn't want to lean on him, but she simply didn't have the strength to resist.

Worried she might choke, Ferdinand had even brought her a straw.

She took a few slow sips, and finally the dryness in her throat eased a bit.

"I'd like some soup," she said quietly.

An appetite-any appetite-was a good sign.

onto the bed and set the glass on the nightstand. "I'II ask Belinda to

go outside

recovering. It's not wise to go

she met his gaze. "I mean, I want to leave this room. Take a walk, window shop-anything. I just don't want to be shut away in here

his expression unreadable. "It's not as safe

voice resolute. "Maybe I don't have much time

into a

the conflict in his

gaze, then gave a crooked half-smile. "Ferdinand, I've known for a while. My sudden illness is

his side, clenched into a

whatever words he meant to say,

so strangely. I couldn't see you, but you asked if I'd taken any other medication. That's when I realized

take anything?" he asked

"But you seem to have forgotten-my mother had

Ferdinand looked startled.

isn't exactly hereditary, but medicine says maternal genes can have a impact. Maybe I was always carrying some dormant mutation, and your so-called monot happened to trigger it. Or maybe not. You're a

tone was light, almost like she

wasn't innocent, that it was saving him all those years ago which led