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.

nodded. "You're right.

overthink this. You have to live.

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

at him, silent

never once mentioning

everything they'd been through, if she still doubted Stewart's

she couldn't bear the

have just parted ways, or at least remained friends, but things had spiraled far beyond that... Love tangled up

if you say it, I'll believe

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. You're right nothing is more important than that. So I'll accept it.

Stewart felt as though an invisible

husband. You and I are just the parents of our children. Now that you're remarried, we have to keep our distance. From now on, there won't be a room for you at Pearbrook Mansion.

spoke, the colder her words became, but her tears only

couldn't hold himself back any longer. He stepped forward and pulled her into his

face in