Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"That day at the hospital, you really did have your eggs retrieved," Mary said quietly. "But they were switched. The embryo that was created... it's Ferdinand's and mine."

It was almost too much to process. For a moment, Briony's mind went blank.

Mary pressed on, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes I catch myself wishing the baby was actually yours and Ferdinand's. Maybe then, the baby's cord blood could save you..."

Briony was stunned, but in a strange way, she also felt relief.

Thank God the child wasn't hers and Ferdinand's. That would have been a nightmare.

But her relief was tinged with guilt when she thought of everything Mary had sacrificed.

"Mary, I'm so sorry you got caught up in all this. Since you've decided to keep the baby, just focus on your pregnancy. Even if I'm not around, I'll make sure you're taken care of."

Mary looked at Briony, her eyes filling with tears at the thought that Briony might not have long to live. "You're such a good person, Briony. Why does life have to be so cruel to you?"

Briony smiled, pulling a few tissues from the box and handing them to her. "Silly girl, you're worried about me? You're the one throwing yourself headlong into the deep end for Ferdinand. Being a single mom isn't easy-you're in for a rough road."

over her belly. "It's still a thousand times better than scraping by in the slums. I've made up my mind. I'm going to bring this baby into the world, and I'll raise him right. I swear, I won't let him make the same mistakes

worried about Mary, but seeing the

a while longer. Suddenly, Mary glanced at the tightly closed hospital room

all," Briony replied,

chance for you two

an eyebrow.

Wentworth loves you, you know!" Mary insisted. "That day, he risked getting his hand chopped off by Ferdinand just to protect you. And he stayed by your side as Blair Monroe even before he was fully recovered. You have two kids together. He never really betrayed you, he's handsome, and he's gentle with you now... Honestly, I don't see why you couldn't

gaze with exasperation. "After everything you've seen,

cleared up, you have kids together, and Mr. Wentworth is so good-looking! If you don't want him as

was calm. Talking

had truly let

much-family, obligations, old wounds: I did love him, but it was a love that left me powerless and small Maybe he loved me too, but he realized it

years. Love and resentment twisted together. She'd lost family for his sake; he'd lost his spleen for hers. They'd had five years of harmony and grace, but also ne ugliest, most suffocating the

end, time taught them both how to let go with