Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Little Nina froze for a second, then protested with her hands over her face, "Mom, that's not fair! I'm the prettiest little fairy, you can't keep photos of me looking like a clown!"

Briony ruffled her daughter's round head. "Then why don't you hurry up and wipe that messy face of yours?"

Little Nina, never one to let things weigh her down for long, quickly brushed away her tears.

Her little nose and eyes were still red from crying, but her hands were now firmly planted on her hips, her chubby cheeks full of stubborn defiance.

"Mom, I didn't cry!" Little Nina jabbed a finger at little Mario. "It was Mario who was crying! Shame on you, big boy crying and all~"

At that, the little man quickly wiped his face and glared at his sister. "I wasn't crying! You were!"

"You were!" Little Nina shot back, refusing to back down. "You started it!"

"No, I didn't!" Mario frowned.

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

The two siblings squared off, voices rising in a familiar, escalating duet.

They hardly ever fought, so the adults looked on in amusement, not wanting to interrupt, treating it like a lighthearted skit.

atmosphere was warm and sweet, laughter and bickering mingling in the

an instant, when

the first to notice. He reacted immediately, setting the children down and calling out, "Mr. Delaney, Lorna, please take the kids

he spoke, Stewart had already pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it

a moment. When she realized what was happening, her first instinct was to look toward her

Lorna had

worry. Stay calm. We're heading to the hospital

time this

hands were

own hand and gently patted his. "Stewart, it's okay. Nosebleeds are normal

now," Stewart said, his voice tight, eyes rimmed red.

Briony nodded again.

settled the kids in the

his gaze falling to the handkerchief in Stewart's hand-already soaked through with blood.

the hospital. Please look after the kids for

felt the old hostility toward Stewart. Right now, Briony

meant nothing in