Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Bryn, please—don't cry, I..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Briony looked at him, her voice trembling. "Stewart, this is my life. I don't need you to save me like this."

A sharp pain twisted in Stewart's chest.

"Bryn, the only thing that matters is that you're alive."

He reached out, wanting to wipe away her tears, but Briony stepped back and stood up, just out of reach.

She brushed the tears from her face, her voice icy. "You traded ten years of marriage to save my life, Stewart. Do you really think that makes you some kind of hero?"

Stewart's breath caught. "I didn't think about any of that. In that moment, all I wanted was for you to survive. Bryn, everything else pales in comparison to you being alive..."

Briony stared at him, eyes shining with tears.

let out a brittle laugh and nodded. "You're right. Compared to

don't overthink this. You have to live. Our kids need

any attention to what Xenia Cooper says. The deal was between me and her—it has nothing to do with you. I didn't tell you beforehand, because this was my choice. Even now, if Xenia Cooper is coming after you, it's because of me. If you want to call me selfish, fine—maybe I am. I just

trembled as she gazed at him, silent tears streaming down

an excuse, never once

After everything they'd been through, if she still doubted Stewart's feelings for her, she'd be lying to

she couldn't bear the weight of

friends, but things had spiraled far beyond that... Love tangled up with a debt

say it, I'll believe

her tears away and fixed him with a steady gaze. "If you say you only saved me for the kids, then that's what I'll believe. If you say I don't owe you anything, then I'll accept that we're even. I can do it. I'm not as kind as you think, Stewart I want to Jive.

felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing

that you're remarried, we have to keep our distance. From now on, there won't be a room for you at Pearbrook Mansion. If you want to see the kids,

colder her words became, but

back any longer. He stepped forward and pulled

buried her face in