Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for a full five minutes.

At last, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony's shock.

"Have you finished reading?" she asked, her tone edged with amusement.

Briony's voice was taut. "So-it was your bone marrow that saved my life."

Xenia arched an eyebrow. "That's right. Technically speaking, I'm your savior."

Briony's grip on the contract tightened.

"But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way," Xenia taunted, a sly smile curling her lips. "Tell me, Briony are you moved?"

Briony couldn't answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at life she'd been given had come at such a cost-a cost Stewart had paid in this way.

The contract spelled it out, in black and white-not just a ten-year marriage between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was to remove every person in the company who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.

single word in the contract-her business acumen was

duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had to remain completely faithful. No betrayals, no

Stewart was forbidden from requesting

silent. She'd sensed he was hiding something-now she understood just how different the truth

sides. The

breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within

you're

looking at Briony with open disdain. "He worries you'd feel guilty, wants to play the selfless hero. So no, he doesn't know I'm meeting you

tell me, then?" Briony

Xenia let out a short, derisive laugh. "Because I can't stand it. You two are divorced, sure, and you gave him two kids-but Stewart bending over backwards for an ex-wife? It grates

together, meeting Xenia's

my lawful husband. Please keep your distance, and don't try to maintain any emotional

and looked Xenia squarely

to worry about, Ms. Cooper. I have no interest in another woman's husband Stewart and have been divorced for

sneered. "But now that you know Stewart sold himself to save you,

replied, her eyes cold. "Don't you think I'm the passive

paused, caught off

saying, Ms.

an adult," Briony replied evenly, voice calm. "He can answer for his own actions. You came here today hoping to see me squirm with

tapping her nails impatiently on the table. "But

I suppose you got what you wanted,"