Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stella felt a wave of hurt and confusion crashing over her.

Was she really such a failure?

Had she truly done something wrong?

In her arms, little Aster had cried himself hoarse-now, even as he drifted off, his mouth was still searching for his mother's comforting touch.

Seeing her chance, Stella gently popped the pacifier into his mouth.

The exhausted, hungry little guy latched on and started sucking with determined gusto.

Stella blinked in disbelief, then broke into a smile.

It worked!

For the first time, Aster was actually willing to take the formula.

He must have been truly drained. Two hundred milliliters of formula disappeared in a single go, and when he finished, he let out a satisfied burp, smacked his lips, and soon fell into a deep, contented sleep.

Stella could

into bed, placing a pillow along the edge to keep him from rolling off before quietly slipping into the

cheeks and tiny hands with a warm washcloth,

like a cherub-his chubby face soft and pink, nothing like the little terror who'd just threatened to bring the

her heart melting. She bent down and pressed gentle

beside him. Watching his innocent face, she finally closed her eyes and let

of emotion-relief, exhaustion, and a

room, Stewart and Briony sat on the couch as Cedric Clarke spoke quietly into the phone, Scarlett's voice faintly audible from the other

wasn't drinking out of frustrationnet and besides, Aster's nearly a year old it's about time to wean bim anyway. The longer you wait, the harder it gets... I know you're worried about him, but honestly, kids adapt better than we think. Give it a

on the other end. "Don't cover for her-she's

of his nose. "She's doing well,

voice came back, "Are you

out." He paused, then added, "Mom, you and Dad have helped us so much these past years, looking after Aster. Why don't you take a few

I relax?" Scarlett protested. "You're always busy at the hospital, and I don't feel comfortable leaving Star to take

love nothing more than